Suspect Taken into Custody Following No Fewer Than 50 Shots Let Off from Sydney Home

A 60-year-old man is now in police custody following one individual sustained a gunshot wound, numerous people injured and a number of vehicles shot at by an armed individual in the Croydon Park area.

An estimated 100 shots rang out over a two hour window from 7:45 PM to 9:30 PM Sunday evening in the suburb of Croydon Park.

Police Begin Large-Scale Response

Roads were shut down and a lockdown was imposed on the area after authorities initiated a large-scale response after reports a man was indiscriminately firing at motorists, even targeting police vehicles, driving on the Georges River Road route.

The tactical police unit was called in to detain an individual in his sixties from an apartment situated over a shop adjacent to the bustling roadway.

Officials Provide Details

Acting Supt Stephen Parry told reporters during Sunday evening it was unclear about the precise count of bullets let off “but there could have been in the range of 50 to 100 bullets that were fired”.

He mentioned numerous vehicles and premises were hit by bullets and incurred damage during the incident, but a clearer picture would be available in daylight.

Parry indicated the area was made safe “relatively swiftly” and applauded the involved law enforcement personnel.

“They exhibited exceptional courage through their actions,” he informed the media in a late-night press conference.

“They faced swift shooting multiple times and deserve full recognition due to their conduct.”

He was unable to confirm whether officers also fired their weapons in the course of the incident.

Police Commissioner Describes Alarming Situation

Mal Lanyon, the NSW Police Commissioner said law enforcement's wearable cameras demonstrated how close officers came to being hit as they ducked for protection amid the "critical and alarming situation".

“One can hear a multitude of firearm discharges, and clear strikes, not too far from the camera,” Lanyon informed radio station 2GB in Sydney on Monday morning.

A police member targeted by gunfire was a recent academy graduate for five weeks, Lanyon noted.

A motive for the shooting was yet to be determined however, Lanyon indicated no connection was identified to acts of terrorism or organized crime.

Harm and Aftermath

Emergency medical personnel attended to a group of 16 persons at the scene suffering from minor wounds.

• Certain individuals were hurt due to flying glass fragments after their vehicle windows were shot.
• A few were attended to for shock.

A number of people were transported to the hospital after being treated by paramedics.

A taxi driver aged in his fifties remained in serious yet stable condition having sustained harm to his neck and head area.

Rare Event for the City

It was a matter of luck that further casualties were avoided, Trent King, the acting assistant commissioner commented.

“It’s unprecedented for Sydney to experience an incident of this nature, featuring a significant quantity of discharged rounds,” he stated to the ABC radio station on Monday.

“It is very fortunate that we didn’t have more damage and certainly more injuries or indeed fatalities.”

King stated it likely was alarming for the community and responding police officers.

“It can be stated that the responding police came under gunfire. We have damaged police vehicles and we are extremely lucky that no officers sustained injuries.”

Alleged Shooter in Detention

The male suspect aged 60 was held by authorities in Bankstown hospital and was slated for questioning and formally charged on Monday.

Weapons, among them a high-caliber rifle, were confiscated at the time of his arrest, authorities claimed.

Eyewitness Testimony

One eyewitness to the shooting informed the ABC he was driving by and “listened to a series of bangs along the left side of the taxi”.

“Subsequently, I glanced beside me, and I spotted a few openings in the window on the passenger side,” he mentioned.

“It escaped my notice there was actually a hole on the roof as well. The odor of gunpowder reached me, however, I presumed as it coincided with the NRL grand final evening, it might be someone setting off firecrackers or similar.”