Auburn, Sydney shooting: Terrifying new details revealed as family break their silence after they escaped gunman’s deadly rampage
A deranged gunman who shot at his in-laws’ home before killing himself was trying to track down his wife after she left him and fled.
The 50-year-old Victoria man fired multiple shots into a house on Antwerp Street in Auburn in Sydney’s west just before 10pm on Tuesday evening before running away.
He then attempted to loot two vehicles on nearby Mona Street.
The first attempt was unsuccessful and the driver drove on, but the second driver, a 55-year-old man, was shot in the neck in front of his 15-year-old daughter.
The shooter then fled to the banks of Duck Creek, where he turned the gun on himself. The driver was taken to hospital in serious but stable condition.
Deputy Commissioner Brett McFadden said the gunman’s 50-year-old wife, their two children, aged 15 and 20, and his wife’s parents – in their 70s – were in the home at the time of the attack.
A family member was sweeping up broken glass from the front balcony on Wednesday. He said the glass was “broken” but that he was “reasonably” okay under the circumstances.
It was a miracle [no one was hurt when he shot into the house]’, she said. ‘I thought I almost lost my entire family.’
Police are seen on the grounds on Antwerpsestraat on Wednesday
A family member cleans up broken glass outside the building on Wednesday
A relative of the family came to the property on Wednesday to speak with police
Officers arrive at a house on Antwerpsestraat after shots were fired just after 10 p.m.
Assistant Commissioner McFadden said the gunman’s wife had fled Victoria earlier this week to seek refuge with her parents after 23 years of marriage.
Police said the husband had travelled to NSW in the hours leading up to the attack to locate his family.
“The man was enraged and smashed the front windows of the property and forced open the front doors but did not enter,” Assistant Commissioner McFadden said on Wednesday.
‘He grabbed a firearm and pointed it at the man in his 70s. He fired the firearm, but it did not function.
‘He then pointed the gun at the woman, a woman in her 70s, and a shot was fired into the building. He didn’t hit anyone and the man left.
“We are very grateful that we are not dealing with another case of domestic violence at this time.”
According to Assistant Commissioner McFadden, the first motorist was a 56-year-old woman, who did not stop and immediately alerted police.
He said the second driver was shot through the driver’s side window, suffering shoulder and facial injuries.
According to Deputy Commissioner McFadden, the man is not known to be a registered gun owner and an investigation is underway to determine how he obtained the weapon.
He was also not actively known to police in Victoria or NSW for domestic violence matters.
Assistant Commissioner Brett McFadden speaks to reporters on Wednesday
A bullet casing could be seen on the ground outside the house
Duck Creek (pictured) where the shooter’s body was found
The family is offered a wealth of support as they process the traumatic event.
The incident comes as New South Wales police launched Operation Amarok Seven on Wednesday, targeting high-risk domestic violence offenders across the state.
Deputy Commissioner McFadden said it is a challenge for investigators working on domestic violence cases that occur across the border because officers do not have access to data from the various states.
He urged anyone who may be a victim of domestic violence to contact police so that steps can be taken to protect them.
“If we look at this man’s history, we see he has assets in NSW going back to 1980, 1990. There has been nothing of substance since then that concerns us,” he said.
‘Victoria has not had any active interaction with him for 10 years, so we are now really going to look at what factors pose a challenge and a risk to the community.
“It’s not easy, but it requires an unwavering commitment that we make every day to ensure we protect victims and hold perpetrators accountable.
The man then shot at a car (pictured), hitting a 55-year-old man sitting inside in the neck
Forensic workers inspect the door at the front of the house
Earlier on Wednesday, investigators were reported searching the home for evidence, and a shell casing was found in the driveway.
A firearm was also found and seized as evidence.
Neighbors said they heard bangs and looked outside to see a small man running away from the scene of the crime in Antwerpsestraat.
They said they were shocked and that an elderly couple had lived in the four-bedroom, single-story house for more than 30 years.
“They are a lovely couple, very hardworking,” one resident told Daily Mail Australia.
Another man who lives on Antwerp Street told Daily Mail Australia he understands there are usually three people living in the house.
He said his sister-in-law had just left their house when she heard two or three loud bangs and quickly ran back inside where they could see the commotion.
“There was an older man in his car, backing up restlessly on the street,” someone said.
“He continued backing in and out of his driveway, and then in and out of the driveways next to him. Then he pulled into the driveway and started arguing with the people inside.”
The neighbor called the police, after which the elderly man was allowed inside.
Officers arriving at the home immediately began searching for the shooter, and a short time later the police radio announced that they had found him.
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