Taskforce Falcon detectives have charged four people following an investigation into three public place shootings in Lake Illawarra and Sydney’s south west this year.
About 8am on Thursday 9 April 2026, officers attached to Lake Illawarra Police District were called to Kalang Avenue in Kanahooka, following reports of a shooting.
Police were told a number of shots were allegedly fired towards the home about 4:30am. No one was injured.
About 2.45am on Sunday 12 April 2026, police were called to a home on Columbine Avenue in Punchbowl, following reports of a public place shooting.
Officers attached to Bankstown Police Area Command arrived and found that several shots had been fired into the front of a home by the occupants of an unknown vehicle before it left the scene.
About 3am the same day, police were called to a home on Noble Avenue in Greenacre, following reports of a second public place shooting.
Officers arrived and found that several shots had been fired into a second home by the occupants of an unknown vehicle before it also left the scene prior to police arrival.
No injuries were reported during any of the incidents.
Local police established crime scenes at all three locations, before the matter was handed over to State Crime Command’s Taskforce Falcon under Strike Force Albanstine.
Over the course of the investigation, strike force detectives established that all three incidents were linked.
Following extensive inquiries, about 6am yesterday (Wednesday 17 June 2026) strike force detectives – with assistance of Raptor Squad and Southwest Metropolitan Operations Support Group – executed four search warrants in Fairfield, Liverpool, and Macquarie Fields.
A short time later in Moorebank, an 18-year-old man was arrested and taken to Liverpool Police Station. He was charged with two counts of fire firearm at dwelling organised criminal activity and participate criminal group contribute criminal activity.
He was refused bail to appear at Liverpool Local Court today (Thursday 18 June 2026).
A 19-year-old Fairfield man was arrested and taken to Liverpool Police Sation, where he was charged with two counts of fire firearm at dwelling organised criminal activity and participate criminal group contribute criminal activity.
He was refused bail to appear at Liverpool Local Court today (Thursday 18 June 2026).
In Macquarie Fields, a 17-year-old boy was arrested and taken to Liverpool Police Station, where he was charged with two counts of fire firearm at dwelling organised criminal activity and participate criminal group contribute criminal activity.
He was refused bail to appear at a children’s court today (Thursday 18 June 2026).
A 16-year-old Liverpool boy was arrested and taken to Liverpool Police Station, where he was charged with two counts of fire firearm at dwelling organised criminal activity and participate criminal group contribute criminal activity.
He was refused bail to appear at a children’s court today (Thursday 18 June 2026).
As part of ongoing inquiries, strike force detectives are seeking assistance from the public in identifying the driver of a vehicle in Punchbowl, around the time of the alleged incident.
The car is described as a being a red Mitsubishi Pajero with a P-plate displayed on the back.
Anyone who recognises this vehicle is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Strike Force Albanstine inquiries continue.
Anyone with information that may assist investigations into organised criminal activity is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is managed on a confidential basis. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
