Drug & Firearms Squad detectives have charged six men following an investigation into a public place shooting in Sydney’s southwest last year.
About 9.20pm on Tuesday 12 September 2023, police were called to a carpark on Canterbury Road in Campsie, following reports of a shooting.
Officers attached to Burwood Police Area Command attended and found a 27-year-old man suffering two gunshot wounds to his head and chest.
Police were told the man had been in his vehicle in the carpark when he was approached by an unknown man, who fired two guns at him up to 12 times before fleeing the scene in a white Mercedes.
The injured man was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being taken to hospital in a serious condition. He has since made a full recovery.
A short time later, emergency services were called to Kilkee Avenue in Kingsgrove, following reports of a car fire.
Officers attached to Campsie Police Area Command arrived to find a white Mercedes sedan had crashed into a house before catching alight. No injuries were reported, and the fire was extinguished by Fire and Rescue NSW.
Initial inquiries revealed the Mercedes had been staged on Virgil Street in Greystanes several weeks prior to the shooting.
Shortly after locating the Mercedes, police then located a black Mazda CX-5 alight on Larien Crescent in Birrong and a blue BMW sedan alight on Leonie Crescent in Berala.
Local police commenced inquiries before the matter was taken carriage of by State Crime Command’s Drug & Firearms Squad under Strike Force Faux.
On Wednesday 13 September 2023, emergency services were called to a car fire on Wilshire Road in Agnes Banks, where police located what they believe was another getaway vehicle – a black Kia.
About 10.10pm on Wednesday 20 September 2023 – eight days after the incident – a final burnt out vehicle, a silver Nissan Pulsar, was located on Bellamy Farm Road in West Pennant Hills.
Investigations under Strike Force Faux established all five burnt out cars were used as getaway cars in the shooting and subsequent burning out of the vehicles by up to seven people.
Following extensive inquiries, both firearms used in the shooting have been recovered and forensically examined.
About 5.30am on Thursday 29 February 2024, strike force detectives – with assistance from Raptor Squad – executed a search warrant in North Parramatta where they arrested a 19-year-old man.
A 22-year-old man was arrested nearby in Granville a short time later.
During a search of the North Parramatta property, detectives located and seized two gel blasters, two replica revolvers, two crossbows, a butterfly knife, knuckle dusters and 37 grams of a white powder.
The younger man was taken to Granville Police Station, where he was charged with two counts of possessing an unauthorised pistol. He was refused bail and appeared in Parramatta Local Court on Thursday 29 February 2024.
The older man was taken to Merrylands Police Station, where he was charged with eight offences, including shoot at with intent to murder, six counts of possess or use a prohibited weapon without a permit, and participate in criminal group.
He was refused bail and appeared in Parramatta Local Court on Friday 1 February 2024.
Simultaneous to the first warrant, strike force detectives – with assistance from Bass Hill Regional Enforcement Squad (RES) – executed a search warrant in Merrylands where they arrested a 20-year-old man.
At the home, detectives located and seized electronics, cannabis and over $3,000 cash.
The man was taken to Merrylands Police Station, where he was charged with destroy etc property in company use fire etc >$5000. He was refused bail and appeared at Parramatta Local Court on Friday 1 March 2024.
At the same time, strike force detectives – with assistance from the Public Order & Riot Squad – executed a search warrant in Greystanes, where they arrested 19-year-old man.
During a search of the property, police located and seized a small amount of cannabis, clothing relevant to the investigation and a gel blaster.
The man was taken to Merrylands Police Station where he was charged with shoot at with intent to murder, possess unauthorised prohibited firearm, destroy etc property in company use fire etc >$5000 and participate in a criminal group.
He was refused bail and appeared at Parramatta Local Court on Friday 1 March 2024.
Just before 7.30am the same day, officers arrested a 18-year-old man at Merrylands Police Station, where he was charged with destroy or damage property in company use fire etc >$5000.
He was refused bail and appeared at Parramatta Local Court on Friday 1 March 2024.
Following further inquiries, about 8am today (Tuesday 5 March 2024), a 19-year-old man was transferred from a correctional centre in Silverwater to Riverstone Police Station, where he is expected to be charged with deliberately destroy/damage property by fire in company.
Investigations under Strike Force Faux continue.
Anyone with information that may assist investigators is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
