Croydon Park Shooting: Man in Custody After Two-Hour Standoff
Nick Grimm: Police, armed wiht automatic weapons and in full tactical gear, responded to reports of a shooting in the Sydney suburb of croydon Park last night. A 60-year-old man has been taken into custody after allegedly firing a high-powered rifle from a second-story window for nearly two hours. Residents where warned to stay indoors as the situation unfolded, and several people were injured, including a man in his 50s currently in critical condition. Reporter Max Tillman is on the scene in croydon Park.
Max Tillman: Police were called to George’s River Road around 7:45 PM following reports of indiscriminate gunfire.Authorities estimate between 50 and 100 shots were fired, striking cars and even police vehicles.This prompted a major response, with the area considered an active shooter situation for two hours. A man in his 50s suffered serious neck and chest wounds and is undergoing emergency surgery.Sixteen others sustained minor injuries, primarily from shattering glass.
(Soundbite: Taxi Driver) “I was just happy to be driving by and as I was driving by, I just heard a bang, bang, bang on the left side of the car, the taxi. And then I looked next to me and I saw a couple of holes through the window right next to on the passenger side. And I didn’t even realise there was actually a hole on the roof as well. And I smelled the gunpowder but I assume because it was grand final night,somebody throwing firecrackers or something.”
Nick Grimm: A terrifying experience for those caught in the crossfire. Max, what has the police response been?
Max Tillman: The response included the deployment of the BearCat armoured vehicle, specialist police units, and a police helicopter.Police have confirmed the arrest of the 60-year-old suspect and the seizure of a high-calibre rifle.New South Wales Police Superintendent Stephen Parry provided an update on the operation.
(Soundbite: Stephen Parry) ”We secured the premises in the scene fairly quickly. Specialist resources were deployed promptly, including aerial support, which we had visual on the person at various stages and we were confident in the plan that we had and that we’d secured that person within the location and then we executed the successful tactical plan.”
Nick Grimm: New South Wales Police superintendent Stephen Parry.
