Wodonga Kmart shooting: Daniel Boyton to stay in custody
Members of the public took cover after an alleged broad daylight shooting in a public place in Wodonga on Wednesday.
A man and woman remain in custody following the incident in the Kmart car park, which allegedly took place about 7pm in front of about 50 people.
A bystander on Thursday told The Border Mail they saw two men arguing outside the business before the gun was fired.
It was unclear how many rounds were discharged - one person believed they heard two shots - but one small bullet hole was visible in a steel pole outside the retailer.
Some people moved to safety while the incident unfolded as others called triple zero, with a man and woman leaving the scene in a vehicle.
ARREST: Daniel Boyton is taken into custody on Wednesday night.
A Wagga man, 27, and Albury woman, 23 were arrested at a motel on High Street a short time later, with a firearm seized.
A worker at a nearby business quickly locked the door of her premises as another person called police.
She was focused on a man, who she said got into the rear of a vehicle, and wrote down the car's number plate.
"Of course I was concerned," she said.
"I didn't know what they were going to do.
ARREST: A woman was also taken into custody but was released without charge on Thursday.
"It just happened very quickly."
She said the man who was shot at left the scene and police arrived a short time later.
About a dozen officers attended the area on Thursday as police moved to allay community concerns.
Police walked the vicinity of the shooting to offer support to anyone who needed it, with a tent set up all day to answer public questions.
A metal detector was used near a bullet hole in the beam outside Kmart as measurements and photographs were taken of the crime scene.
CRIME SCENE: Police at the scene on Thursday.
Multiple CCTV cameras cover the area, including one which appears to face directly at the area where the shooting took place.
Onlookers were shocked when told what occurred.
Another woman said she'd heard a gunshot.
"I didn't expect that to happen around here," she said.
The vehicle drove past her on the way out.
Police said it wasn't a random attack, with the alleged offenders and victim known to each other.
CRIME SCENE: Police at the scene on Thursday.
The victim wasn't hurt.
It followed multiple drive-by shootings in the city last month but police don't believe the incidents are linked.
Inspector Paul Hargreaves said Wednesday night's incident followed a "brief altercation" between two men which occurred about 7pm.
"Shortly after that one of the males is alleged to have returned and fired a firearm," he said.
"As a result of that, that male soon after fled and he was located shortly after on High Street, where he was arrested in company with a female person."
The alleged shooter, Daniel Boyton, was charged on Thursday and the woman released without charge.
CRIME SCENE: Police at the scene on Thursday.
He appeared before the Wodonga Magistrates Court and did not apply for bail.
Lawyer Mario Vaccaro said his client would likely apply for bail on Monday.
He said Boyton was on Suboxone, which he had a script for in Wagga, and was in withdrawal.
"It's causing issues for him," he said.
He faces charges including shooting at a person in a populous area, reckless conduct endangering serious injury and breaching an order.
Inspector Hargreaves said the incident wasn't thought to be linked to last month's spate of drive-by shootings, but all incidents involving guns were concerning.
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"What it says to us is there are firearms in our community, we know that," he said.
"We've had reports of firearms being stolen over many years and sometimes they get into the hands of the wrong people.
"If you're a legal firearms holder, it's really important you secure your firearms and keep them out of harm's way."
Inspector Hargreaves said police relied on information from the public about illegal guns.
ASSURANCE: Inspector Paul Hargreaves and Acting Sergeant Raquel Vogel. Inspector Hargeaves said there was a heavy police presence near the scene to give assurance to the community. Picture: TARA TREWHELLA
"People in our community, unfortunately, we know have guns illegally," he said.
"Most of that information comes to us by a party that's somehow connected to them."
He urged anyone with information about illegal guns, or Wednesday's incident, to call police or Crime Stoppers.
He said it was pleasing that quick arrests had been made following the recent incidents.
"We are certainly keen to hear from anybody who may have information," he said.
Call (02) 6049 2600 or 1800 333 000.
