THREE ARRESTED OVER ALLEGED SHOOTING, BREAK-IN AND POLICE PURSUIT
Two men have been charged and another arrested over their alleged role in a public place shooting and break-in at Lake Macquarie last night.
Police were called to a house on Alhambra Street, Macquarie Hills, after reports of shots fired just before 6.50pm.
A 49-year-old man inside the home suffered a graze to his wrist but didn’t need treatment. A woman was also inside but wasn’t injured.
Officers from Lake Macquarie Police District established a crime scene and commenced an investigation.
Police were told an Audi hatchback was seen leaving the scene.
A short time later, about 7.25pm, police received reports of an attempted break-in at a club at Redhead involving an Audi hatchback; with three men allegedly seen leaving the scene in the car.
One of the men, aged 21, allegedly suffered a serious leg injury while allegedly forcing entry into the premises and was taken soon after to John Hunter Hospital, where he was arrested and remains under police guard in a stable condition.
About 9:50pm, police located the Audi driving on South Street, Windale, with assistance from PolAir. The driver allegedly did not stop, and a pursuit was initiated.
It’s alleged the driver then drove at high speed from Windale to Merewether, before crashing into a gutter at Dixon Park.
The driver and passenger got out of the vehicle and ran from police.
The driver, an 18-year-old man, jumped into the ocean and swam away from police, returning to shore a short time later and was arrested.
During a search, police allegedly located ammunition and a firearm in a door compartment of the Audi.
Police located the passenger, a 19-year-old man, with assistance from the Dog Unit, at a home on John Street, Merewether.
The man was arrested, and police allegedly located ammunition on him. Officers also allegedly located a second firearm in the backyard of the property.
The firearms, ammunition, and car were seized for forensic examination. Police will allege the car was stolen from a carpark in Ourimbah about 1.50am on 1 May 2021.
The men were taken to Newcastle Police Station.
The 18-year-old was charged with fire firearm at dwelling-house with disregard for safety, two counts of possess unregistered firearm in public place, possess ammunition without holding licence, possess loaded firearm public place, fire firearm in or near public place, aggravated enter dwelling with intent -in company-not steal, police pursuit – not stop – drive recklessly, drive conveyance taken without consent of owner, and possess prohibited drug.
The 19-year-old was charged with fire firearm at dwelling-house with disregard for safety, two counts of possess unregistered firearm in public place, possess ammunition without holding licence/permit/authority, aggravated enter dwelling with intent in company – not steal, be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner.
They were both refused bail and are due to appear in Newcastle Local Court today.
Inquiries continue.
