Police are urging the community to come forward with information after a shot was fired at a Wagga home over the weekend, an incident described as a "serious safety concern".
The shooting, which took place early on Sunday morning, was one of two firearm-related incidents that occurred in the same weekend.
Around 3am on Sunday, a single shot was fired through the window of a home on Awaba Drive in Tolland by a person currently unknown to police.
A man and a woman, aged 30 and 39, were awoken by the sound of glass shattering.
Police said there were up to seven people in the residence at the time, including children, but no injuries were reported.
Officers from the Riverina Police District were called to the location about 10am the same day after the occupants located pellets while cleaning up the glass.
A crime scene was established and an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident is under way.
A resident on nearby Quabara Place said they observed five to 10 police cars at the scene at 11am on Sunday. The police presence remained until about 2pm, the resident said.
Riverina Police District crime manager Detective Chief Inspector Winston Woodward said no motive has been identified at this stage.
"Whether it's a targeted attack or not we don't know, but to have a shot from a shotgun fired into a premises just leads me to believe that it was meant for that premises," he said.
Inspector Woodward called the incident a "serious safety concern", particularly in relation to what police believe is "an unknown person out there with an unauthorised firearm".
"Public place shootings are something that you don't see very often so of course we're very concerned and we want to do all we can to bring the perpetrator to justice, but we do need the community's help with this one."
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Inspector Woodward said there were "most definitely" people in the community who know the offender and urged them to come forward to Crime Stoppers or Riverina detectives with any information, even anonymously.
Meanwhile, Inspector Woodward said it's believed three firearms were stolen from a residence on Undurra Drive at Glenfield Park between December 2 and 5.
The firearms were rifles and the theft is also under police investigation.
Inspector Woodward said police don't currently believe the two incidents are linked, "but we keep all of our options open in an investigation".
"It's quite concerning that I've had a public place shooting in the one weekend, and three firearms have been stolen from another residence in the same weekend," he said.
"That makes it two incidents this weekend with firearms, which is very concerning to us."
Emily Wind
Originally from Lake Macquarie, Emily kickstarted her journalism career in Tumut before moving to the Daily Advertiser in Wagga where she covers Health and Features. Got a story tip? Email emily.wind@austcommunitymedia.com.au, or call 0457 459 095.
Originally from Lake Macquarie, Emily kickstarted her journalism career in Tumut before moving to the Daily Advertiser in Wagga where she covers Health and Features. Got a story tip? Email emily.wind@austcommunitymedia.com.au, or call 0457 459 095.
Monty Jacka
Monty is a journalist at The Daily Advertiser in Wagga. He can be reached at m.jacka@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Monty is a journalist at The Daily Advertiser in Wagga. He can be reached at m.jacka@austcommunitymedia.com.au
