Detectives investigating a shooting in Lake Macquarie have charged a fifth person as part of ongoing inquiries.
Just after 4am on Thursday 18 May 2023, emergency services were called to a home on Flame Street, Gateshead, after reports shots had been fired, injuring a man.
Officers from Lake Macquarie Police District attended with NSW Ambulance paramedics and found a 41-year-old man suffering a gunshot wound to his leg.
Police have been told the man and his family were asleep at the home when they were woken by two loud noises. He was injured after a projectile entered the front window.
The man was treated by paramedics and taken to hospital for treatment of non life-threatening injuries.
A crime scene was established, with an investigation into the shooting led by Lake Macquarie detectives under Strike Force Rathmell.
During the course of the investigation, three men – aged 38, 23, and 21 – and a 45-year-old woman were charged. They remain before the courts.
Following further inquiries, a 23-year-old man was arrested at Newcastle Police Station on Wednesday 21 June 2023.
A subsequent search warrant was executed at a home in Paper Street, Gateshead, where investigators located a firearm. It was seized to undergo forensic examination.
The man was charged with discharge firearm etc intend cause grievous bodily harm, attempt special aggravated break and enter and commit serious indict offence-inflict grievous bodily harm, and possess unauthorised firearm.
He was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court yesterday where he was formally refused bail to appear before the same court on Thursday 17 August 2023.
Investigations under Strike Force Rathmell are ongoing.
