A 79-year-old man accused of shooting a lawyer in the groin was described as a “kind old man” by shocked neighbors on the quiet street in Sydney’s south where he cares for his ailing wife and lives with his adult son.
Police allege Sinve Vulic, 79, entered Van Cooney Lawyers’ ninth-floor office on Castlereagh Street, in Sydney’s CBD, at 12.50pm on Wednesday, carrying a pistol and carrying a bag containing a sawn-off semi- automatic M1 carbine rifle.
It is alleged that Vulic was calmly asked to speak to the head of the firm, Van Cooney, before shooting him in the groin with the gun.
A handful of brave office workers, including injured Mr Cooney, 77, then wrestled Vulic to the ground and held him until police arrived three minutes later.
Police allege Sinve Vulic (pictured) shot a law firm boss in the groin on Wednesday afternoon
Neighbors on the quiet Illawong street where he has lived with his wife and adult son for almost 30 years describe him as a ‘friendly old man’ (Photo: Vulic’s $1.65 million home)
Vulic has been charged with shooting with intent to murder, in addition to six gun-related crimes.
He has yet to enter a plea and remains in custody. Police claim it was a personal dispute, although the details are shrouded in mystery.
The shocking outburst of alleged violence in the heart of Sydney’s legal district came as a complete surprise to Vulic’s neighbors on the quiet, leafy street in Illawong where he has lived for almost 30 years.
A neighbor said they heard police raid the home Wednesday night, but had no idea it was related to the alleged shooting in the city.
‘He is sweet. He speaks minimal English, but whenever we see him mowing the lawn or working in the garden, my kids go up to him and say hello,” she said.
Another neighbor a few doors down said Vulic was caring for his wife Kata, who was unwell.
“He’s just a friendly old man,” the neighbor said.
Van Cooney, 77, (pictured) was reportedly shot at a law firm building in Sydney’s city center on Wednesday afternoon
Police allege the gunman asked to speak to Mr Cooney (pictured) at his law firm on Wednesday afternoon before shooting him in the groin.
‘He walks around and visits friends on another street. I spoke to him at our neighbor’s funeral and he seemed nice. I don’t know any other side of him.’
Vulic was born in Croatia and emigrated to Australia in 1967, where he married three years later.
He was a carpenter by profession, but a back injury he suffered in 1982 left him without work.
In 1995 he was declared bankrupt as a result of a costs order against him in an unsuccessful Workers Compensation proceeding brought by him for back injuries.
Vulic’s two adult children helped him and his wife purchase the current family home.
Vulic’s adult son, Robert, did not respond to a request for comment Thursday.
Police officers rushed to the scene of the alleged shooting within three minutes
The suburban street, where the median home price is more than $1.5 million, is several hundred yards from the banks of the Georges River.
Every neighbor Daily Mail Australia spoke to did not know Vulic by name – despite the family having lived there for almost 30 years.
‘It’s an older couple. I think they are Macedonian or Croatian,” a neighbor added.
“He’s always very friendly and says hello, but they keep to themselves.”
Vulic’s lawyer appeared at Downing Center Local Court on Thursday morning and requested medical attention for his client.
Magistrate Ian Guy said all defendants are being screened. Vulic will next be released in May.
His alleged victim, Mr Cooney, is expected to make a full recovery.
NSW Police Inspector David El-Badawi praised the office workers who subdued Vulic after the alleged shooting.
“The people in the office were very brave,” Detective El-Badawi said.
“They restrained the perpetrator until police arrived.”
Daily Mail Australia spoke to an office worker who confirmed he helped subdue the alleged gunman, but declined to comment further.
Detective El-Badawi described the alleged shooting as “isolated.”
Inspector Dominic Wong from NSW Ambulance said officers administered first aid to Mr Cooney.
“I do believe the projectile had entered his body; it wasn’t a scratch. But when we arrived at the scene, he was not actively bleeding,” Inspector Wong told reporters.
‘He was in a stable condition. All his vital signs were within normal limits.”