A 63-year-old man has been charged after shots were fired at a number of homes and a police vehicle in the state’s Northern Rivers region overnight.
Police say that at around 9pm on Saturday, officers from Richmond Police District were called to Dunoon, about 20km north of Lismore, following reports of shots fired at a home on Rayward Road.
“On route to the scene, police received further reports a man had allegedly fired shots at two separate homes on Rayward Road, and another on Duncan Road,” NSW Police said in a statement.
“On arrival, further shots were fired at police, who sought cover in their vehicles. A police vehicle was peppered with bullets, sustaining significant damage.
“A female senior constable was in the vehicle at the time, maintaining communications. She was uninjured. A female sergeant discharged her firearm in the man’s direction.”
Police say more than 20 shots were allegedly fired by the man, with 12 police officers and six local residents taking refuge in a nearby home and other residents instructed to remain in their homes.
Specialist police units were deployed to assist in the operation – including officers attached to the Tactical Operations Regional Response, negotiators, Police Rescue, and the Dog Unit with assistance from Queensland PolAir.
“Following further inquiries, tactical officers arrested a 63-year-old man outside a property on Rayward Road about midnight,” police said.
“A number of crime scenes have been established in the area with a shotgun and spent cartridges recovered at a Rayward Road home.”
The man was taken to Lismore Police Station, where he was charged with four counts of fire firearm at dwelling-house with disregard for safety, two counts of discharge firearm with intent to resist arrest, and two counts of fire firearm in or near public place.
He has been refused bail to appear at Lismore Local Court tomorrow.
