Launceston shooting: ‘Number’ of bullets strike Leslie St shed, woman

Images of the scene of an overnight shooting in Tasmania show multiple rounds, one of which struck a woman, have pierced a shed, with police declining to say what calibre they were.

UPDATED 3PM: A northern Tasmanian shed’s roller door is pockmarked with bullet holes after a shooting late Wednesday night in which a 36-year-old woman was struck in the leg.

Detective Acting Inspector Mathew Adams of the Launceston CIB revealed police received a number of calls reporting gunfire on Leslie St, South Launceston, about 11.50pm Wednesday.

A bullet struck a 36-year-old woman in the “lower leg”, leading to her hospitalisation at the Launceston General Hospital with “non-life threatening injuries”.

Inspector Adams said police were firmly of the belief the woman, understood to have lived at the adjoining residence or within the shed, was known to the gunman or gunmen, with the attack “targeted”.

“We’ve had a number of witnesses come forward and provide assistance,” Inspector Adams said.

There was a “thorough” search of the shed, residence and surrounding street, in which police located “some evidence”.

Police were unable to say how many offenders may have been involved, nor how many rounds, and of what calibre, were fired.

Pictures taken by the Mercury show the shed roller door pockmarked with rounds, some of which are clustered together and did not pierce the shed.

A wheelie bin and another item have been dragged across the roller door to obscure the view of the rounds.

Police responded to reports that shots had been fired into a shed on Leslie St shortly before midnight on Wednesday.

Inspector Adams denied it was a drive-by shooting scenario – “I wouldn’t say that,” he said.

The inspector stressed it was still “very early on” in the investigation, such that police were not even sure “whether the offender or offenders were aware anyone was present in the shed”.

The investigation continues.

EARLIER 10.30 AM: A offender or offenders are at large after a Launceston woman was shot during a “targeted” incident in the city’s south late Wednesday night.

Police responded to reports that guns had been fired into a shed on Leslie St shortly before Midnight on Wednesday.

The 36-year-old victim was taken to Launceston General Hospital with a non life-threatening gunshot wound to her lower leg.

Inspector Mel Groves said while the incident was of significant concern, police believed it to be “isolated” and “targeted”.

“Understandably every firearms incident is concerning for police and the community,” she said.

“I’d like to reassure the community that our investigations so far indicate this incident was isolated, targeted, and between people known to each other.”

Police are investigating the incident and have asked for the public’s help to locate the shooter.

Anyone with any information about the incident, or who witnessed the altercation, is asked to contact Tasmania Police on 131 444.

Follow @jackevansreport