Man Taken into Custody In the Wake of No Fewer Than 50 Bullets Discharged from Inner West Sydney Unit

A male suspect aged 60 is now in police custody in the aftermath of a shooting that injured at least one person, several persons wounded and a number of vehicles shot at by a gunman within the inner western suburbs of Sydney.

Up to 100 shots echoed over a two hour window starting at 7:45 PM and ending around 9:30 PM on Sunday in Croydon Park.

Authorities Initiate Major Operation

Roads were shut down and the area was placed in lockdown as police launched a major operation following accounts a suspect was haphazardly discharging a weapon towards drivers, even targeting police vehicles, moving along Georges River Road.

The tactical police unit were deployed to arrest the male suspect aged 60 from a unit above a business along the busy road.

Officials Offer An Account

Superintendent Stephen Parry in an acting capacity told reporters on Sunday night the exact number was uncertain regarding the total number of rounds discharged “however, it's possible there were anywhere between 50 and 100 shots that have been discharged”.

He mentioned multiple cars and buildings experienced gunfire and destruction throughout the event, but a clearer picture would be available in daylight.

Parry stated the scene was secured “fairly quickly” and commended the participating police.

“They exhibited exceptional courage by carrying out their duties,” he informed the media during a press briefing held late at night.

“They faced rapid fire gun shots during several instances and ought to be praised due to their conduct.”

He could not verify about law enforcement returning fire during the standoff.

Commissioner Details Alarming Incident

Mal Lanyon, the NSW Police Commissioner stated officers' body cameras revealed how close officers came to being hit as they took cover during the “serious and terrifying incident”.

“It's possible to hear many shots, and certainly impact, in close proximity to the camera,” Lanyon told radio station 2GB in Sydney on Monday.

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

A motive for the shooting was yet to be determined but Lanyon said there was no known link to any terrorism or gang activity.

Casualties and Aftermath

Emergency medical personnel attended to a group of 16 persons on site with non-life-threatening harm.

• Some were injured due to flying glass fragments after their vehicle windows were shot.
• Others were treated for shock.

Several individuals were admitted to medical facilities following care from ambulance crews.

A taxi operator who is in his 50s was in a serious but stable condition with wounds to his neck and head.

Unprecedented Incident for the City

Fortune played a role that additional individuals were not injured, Trent King, the acting assistant commissioner said.

“This is unheard of in Sydney to experience an incident of this nature, involving such an extensive volume of gunfire,” he stated to ABC radio on Monday.

“It is very fortunate that further destruction was avoided and clearly further casualties or potentially deaths.”

King said it would have been terrifying for residents and bystanders and responding police officers.

“What I can say is the responding police came under gunfire. Our police cars have been damaged and we are extremely lucky that no police have been injured.”

Suspect in Custody

The individual in his sixties was under police custody in Bankstown hospital and was slated for questioning and formally charged on Monday.

Firearms, including a high-calibre rifle, were seized during his arrest, police alleged.

Witness Account

An individual who witnessed the shooting informed the ABC he was traveling nearby and “heard a bang, bang, bang on the left side of the car, the taxi”.

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

“I was unaware there was actually a hole on the roof as well. I detected the scent of gunpowder, though I thought since it was the night of the NRL grand final, [it was] somebody throwing firecrackers or something.”