An alleged gunman accused of shooting a man in Western Australia, sending a large area into lockdown, has been identified.
On Wednesday about 1am, police responded to reports a 32-year-old man had been shot at Moonyoonooka, on the eastern edge of Geraldton.<\/p>\n
The alleged victim was rushed to hospital and officers placed the area, which is 375km north of Perth, into lockdown while investigations were carried out.<\/p>\n
Hours later, about 10.30am, police made five arrests in Hart St, Utakarra, roughly 9km away.<\/p>\n
Christopher John Shanks, 30, from Wonthella has since been charged with an unlawful act or omission with intent to harm and wilfully destroying evidence.<\/p>\n
He faced the Geraldton Magistrates Court on Thursday and was remanded in custody.<\/p>\n
Police said these were currently the only charges laid in relation to the incident, with inquiries ongoing.<\/p>\n
It comes after they confirmed a gun allegedly used was yet to be found.<\/p>\n
A police spokesperson said the incident was believed to involve people known to one another, with residents being told to stay away from the area.<\/p>\n
Acting Superintendent Ben Huggett told media substantial police resources had been sent to the area after the 32-year-old was found with a non-life threatening gunshot wound to the leg.<\/p>\n
Superintendent Huggett said the alleged shooter and victim were known to each other, but would not confirm how they knew each other or why the man was shot.<\/p>\n
He said police have not located the gun that was used in the incident.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is no information \u2026 to suggest there\u2019s an ongoing threat to the community, nonetheless any incident involving a firearm is serious,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s still early days.<\/p>\n
\u201cBy all accounts, we\u2019re dealing with a genuine firearm.\u201d<\/p>\n
One motorist approaching Perth from the north told ABC Radio she saw a fleet of unmarked police LandCruisers speeding northbound with lights flashing early on Wednesday morning.<\/p>\n
Images from the scene show forensics offices combing country roads.<\/p>\n
State Attorney-General Tony Buti told media on Wednesday he understood the injured man was shot with pellets rather than a bullet.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll I know is that there was one person that was injured. Pellets, I think, were shot,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
\u201cI think there are three offenders, and the police will provide an update, I\u2019m sure.\u201d<\/p>\n
Geraldton Airport is within the area police have locked down, but flights are unaffected at this stage.<\/p>\n
A WA Police Mid West region spokesperson said there was \u201cno information to suggest an ongoing threat to the wider community\u201d.<\/p>\n
The developing situation was a \u201cserious incident involving people known to each other\u201d at Moonyoonooka, and a man had been taken to hospital with a gunshot wound, police said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHis injuries are not believed to be life-threatening. Significant police resources have been deployed to the areas of Moonyoonooka and Utakarra, and inquiries are ongoing,\u201d the police spokesperson said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile this incident involves a firearm, there is no information to suggest an ongoing threat to the wider community.\u201d <\/p>\n
Police told the public to be vigilant but not alarmed and to stay away from the area.<\/p>\n