A 13-year-old boy has been charged over an alleged drive-by shooting with a semi-automatic rifle at a home in Perth’s east, where seven people were inside including children.
The boy, who was already out on bail for charges laid in his home state of Victoria, allegedly fired multiple shots at the house on Bert Street in Gosnells at about 12:40am on Saturday.
Windows were damaged in the shooting. (ABC News)
CCTV footage captured audio of the alleged shooting, with the sound of 27 shots fired on the recording.
Bullets struck a bedroom window and an external wall.
Police have charged a 13-year-old over the incident. (ABC News)
Police arrested the teenager on Monday and charged him with eight offences including unlawful use of a firearm, endangering life, possession of stolen property and no authority to drive.
The 13-year-old appeared briefly in Perth Children’s Court and did not apply for bail.
Police believe the shooting was an isolated incident. (ABC News)
He will reappear in court next week, but the prosecution has indicated it would oppose any bail application, telling the court the teen is already on bail for alleged offences in Victoria.
Incident ‘shocking’
WA Police acting Senior Sergeant Heath Atkinson said there were seven people inside the home at the time of the alleged shooting, and one man was injured by shattered glass.
“One adult male sustained minor injuries and was conveyed to hospital where he received medical treatment,” he said.
The 13-year old was arrested in a car park 18 kilometres away in Belmont the following day.
Acting Senior Sergeant Heath Atkinson described the incident as “shocking”. (ABC News: Lucy Murray)
Senior Sergeant Atkinson said police have not located the semi-automatic carbine firearm they allege the 13-year-old boy used, but said the police investigation was ongoing.
“This is a shocking and deeply concerning incident, that a 13-year-old child was [alleged] to have access to a firearm,” he said.
“The consequences could have been far worse.”
Neighbours startled
The CCTV appears to show a car driving on the street then disappearing from the camera’s view, before a loud bang was heard.
The singular bang was followed by more than two dozen consecutive bangs increasing in speed.
Forensic officers at a Gosnells home that was shot at in the early hours of Saturday morning. (ABC News)
Police said they were alerted at 12:40am, and forensics officers were seen combing through the street throughout the day.
Neighbours near the targeted home said they were woken up by the sound of bullets being fired.
“I have shot a few guns before so I did know it was definitely a shot sound,” Cassie Smith said.
The exterior of the property was damaged. (ABC News)
“I heard a car speed away … quite scary to know that it was right next to where I was sleeping.”
Another neighbour, Joseph Maiolo, said he had also heard “shouting and swearing” from the street.
“I thought someone was going to shoot me. It’s not safe anymore,” he said.