Suspect Taken into Custody After at Least 50 Rounds Discharged from Inner West Sydney Unit

A male suspect aged 60 has been arrested after a shooting that injured at least one person, numerous people injured and several automobiles targeted by gunfire by a shooter in the Croydon Park area.

Up to 100 rounds were fired during a two-hour period starting at 7:45 PM and ending around 9:30 PM on Sunday in the suburb of Croydon Park.

Law Enforcement Initiate Large-Scale Response

Roads were shut down and the vicinity was secured under lockdown after authorities initiated a large-scale response following accounts an individual was randomly shooting in the direction of passing vehicles, even targeting police vehicles, moving along Georges River Road.

The tactical police unit were summoned to take into custody an individual in his sixties from a residence located above a commercial establishment along the busy road.

Police Leadership Give Information

Acting Supt Stephen Parry told reporters during Sunday evening the exact number was uncertain about the precise count of bullets let off “though estimates suggest somewhere from 50 to 100 rounds that have been discharged”.

He said multiple cars and buildings were hit by bullets and incurred damage during the incident, however, a fuller account was expected to emerge by morning.

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

“They demonstrated extreme levels of bravery through their actions,” he stated to the press at a news conference convened in the evening.

“They were under a barrage of gunfire during several instances and ought to be praised for their actions.”

He could not verify if police discharged their firearms as well during the standoff.

Police Commissioner Recounts Terrifying Incident

Commissioner Mal Lanyon of NSW Police stated body-worn cameras from police revealed how near police were to getting shot as they ducked for protection during the “serious and terrifying incident”.

“It's possible to hear numerous gunshots, and certainly impact, nearby the recording device,” Lanyon informed Sydney radio 2GB on Monday morning.

An officer who was fired upon had only been out of the academy five weeks, Lanyon said.

A motive for the shooting has not been established but Lanyon said there was no known link with terrorist or gang-related actions.

Harm and Consequences

Ambulance crews cared for sixteen individuals on site suffering from minor wounds.

• A number sustained injuries from broken glass as their windows were hit by the bullets.
• A few were attended to for shock.

A number of people were taken to hospital subsequent to emergency medical attention.

A taxi operator in his 50s remained in serious yet stable condition having sustained harm to his neck and head area.

Rare Incident for Sydney

It came down to chance that further casualties were avoided, Trent King, the acting assistant commissioner stated.

“Such an event is rare for Sydney to have something like this, featuring a significant quantity of discharged rounds,” he informed the ABC radio station on Monday.

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

King stated it would have been terrifying for the general public as well as for the attending law enforcement.

“It can be stated that those initial police were fired upon. Law enforcement automobiles incurred harm and we are extremely lucky that no officers sustained injuries.”

Suspect in Police Custody

The male suspect aged 60 remained in police custody within a Bankstown medical facility and was due to be interrogated and formally charged on Monday.

Guns, such as a large-caliber rifle, were confiscated at the time of his arrest, police alleged.

Eyewitness Report

A person present during the gunfire told the ABC he was driving by and “heard a bang, bang, bang on the left side of the car, the taxi”.

“Subsequently, I glanced beside me, and I saw a couple of holes on the passenger-side window,” he stated.

“And I didn’t realise that a hole was also present on the roof. And I smelled the gunpowder, but I assumed since it was the night of the NRL grand final, it might be someone setting off firecrackers or similar.”