Detectives have laid nine additional charges against a 63-year-old man over an alleged public place shooting in the state’s Northern Rivers region earlier this month.
Police say that at around 9pm on March 6, 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 today.
“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 that during the operation, more than 20 shots were fired, with 12 police officers and six local residents taking refuge in a nearby home and other residents instructed to remain in their homes.
Specialist 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.
Detectives charged a 63-year-old man with eight offences. Following further investigations and the analysis of seized items, an additional nine offences were laid yesterday.
The charges include two counts of shoot at with intent to murder, fire firearm at dwelling-house with disregard for safety, discharge firearm intend cause grievous bodily harm, destroy/damage property with intent to endanger life, damage property by fire/explosive with intent injure, discharge firearm with intent to resist arrest, fire firearm in or near public place, and not keep firearm safely-not prohibited firearm/pistol.
The man remains on remand and is next due to appear at Lismore Local Court on May 12.
