Heavily armed police prepare to enter a house in Windsor Rd, Baulkham Hills, last night. Picture: Gordon McComiskie
POLICE have said the shooting death of a 20-year-old man in Baulkham Hills had a “degree of targeting” and was not a random attack.
Homicide police are working with officers from The Hills Local Area Command to uncover what led to a dispute between a 29-year-old man who is alleged to have shot dead the 20-year-old on Windsor Rd on Friday night.
The victim lived about 10 doors down from the man accused of shooting him.
Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, Superintendent Rob Critchlow said: “We don’t believe it was a random attack”.
Heavily armed police prepare to enter a house in Windsor Road. Picture: Gordon McComiskieSource:News Corp Australia
Police lead an injured man from the scene. Picture: Gordon McComiskieSource:The Daily Telegraph
Police interview witnesses at the scene. Picture: Gordon McComiskieSource:News Corp Australia
An elderly woman is escorted near the scene. Picture: Gordon McComiskieSource:News Corp Australia
Police interview witnesses at the scene. Picture: Gordon McComiskieSource:News Corp Australia
“We do understand there was some degree of targeting and some degree involved in the crime which is subject to further investigation,” he said. “There are no links to...terrorism or gang behaviour.
“All the information provided to detectives so far tells us the men have known each other for some time; while they are not next-door neighbours, they do live in close proximity,” Supt Critchlow said
No charges have been laid but the 29-year-old is in Hornsby Hospital where he is being treated for “pre-existing injuries”, a police spokeswoman said.
Supt Critchlow said the incident had been “distressing” for the dead20-year-old’s family, including “quite a bit of angst” from his mother.
“He has a large extended family and a lot of those members have driven down from elsewhere in NSW,” he said.
Supt Critchlow did not confirm reports the man was shot with an air rifle or pellet gun.
Instead he said there was “no confirmation as to the calibre of the weapon” but said it was believed to be a “small caliber weapon”.
A police forensic officer at the scene last night. Picture: Gordon McComiskieSource:News Corp Australia
Specialist officers arrive in Windsor Road following the shooting. Picture: Gordon McComiskieSource:News Corp Australia
He said police were still investigating to uncover the motive of the shooting but said both men had “residential and community links” to the Baulkam Hills area.
“We do know the parties involved were known to each other,” he said.
Both men were on the radar of police, he said.
Police are still clarifying if there were other people involved.
Supt Critchlow did not confirm speculative reports that the men had clashed on Thursday night but said “there are some indications that something may have happened earlier in the week.”
Police were called to the scene after receiving reports that a man had been injured.
When they arrived, officers found the 20-year-old suffering a gun wound to the neck.
First Aid was administered but he later died in Westmead Hospital.
“It’s tragic,” he said. “We can’t see any reason why things should eteriorate to the point where someone needs to die.”
Originally published as Shot youth dies in ‘targeted attack’
