Relatives of a woman shot at Primbee on Monday afternoon say she is the victim of an unprovoked home invasion involving an unknown gunman and accomplice.
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The 38-year-old woman emerged from her Illowra Crescent home screaming and bleeding from a gunshot wound to her leg about 1.20pm. A bullet had passed through her left thigh, just above the knee.
The woman’s father, John Pollard, lives in a caravan behind the house and was among those who came to her aid. He told the Mercury he didn’t hear a gun fired, but saw its after-effects.
“I just heard yelling,” he said. “I can’t move that fast. By the time I got out … she just said [a man] shot her. Apparently he walked down through the green gate, opened up the white gate and the glass sliding door was open. As soon as my daughter knew what was going on, she bolted to the other door. He tried to drag her in and because she wouldn’t come in, he shot her.”
Police have formed a strike force to investigate the events of the afternoon and are expected to draw on CCTV footage captured in the area.
As of Monday evening, “a number of persons [were] assisting police with their inquiries”, according a NSW Police spokeswoman. The Mercury has been unable to clarify whether the presumed gunman is among them.
The mother-of-four’s injuries are not considered life threatening, however she will likely undergo surgery.
Illawarra duty operations manager Inspector Norm Rees said the woman was treated for her pain before she was transported to Wollongong Hospital, where she remains.
“She was very upset, but stable,” Insp Rees said.
Relatives say the woman’s husband returns home each day for his lunch break and missed the shooting by a couple of minutes.
A neighbour, Ingrid, was home with her infant son when said she heard alarming noises coming the property, on the corner of Illowra Parkway. "I heard one shot at first then I heard a scream," she said.
“My dog started barking then there was another shot after that. I heard people yelling, saying 'no,no'. I could tell that something had happened and something was wrong.
"I could see people running past my place at the time. Because I was with [my son] I just ducked down and hid."
Another neighbour said he hoped for a swift police response. “It’s scary to think that if they haven’t got this bloke that there’s somebody running around with a loaded weapon, in an agitated state,” he said.
Contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Angela Thompson
Proudly Illawarra Mercury since 2008; these days covering crime and justice issues. UOW alum. Thrilled by the chase and sobered by some of the things I see and hear when I stand still - sometimes in the same day. ang.thompson@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Proudly Illawarra Mercury since 2008; these days covering crime and justice issues. UOW alum. Thrilled by the chase and sobered by some of the things I see and hear when I stand still - sometimes in the same day. ang.thompson@austcommunitymedia.com.au
