A man has been charged after allegedly discharging a firearm while children were nearby on the state's Mid North Coast on Friday.
About 5.50pm on Friday (24 January 2025), a 62-year-old man stopped an SUV on Harrington Road, Coopernook, where he met a 38-year-old man known to him.
Police have been told the two men were arguing when the older man allegedly produced a sawn-off firearm, before discharging it twice into the air.
The armed man then drove from the scene in the SUV, which had a three-year-old child in the rear passenger seat.
The younger man and his nine-year-old passenger were uninjured during the incident.
Officers from Manning/Great Lakes Police District were notified and commenced inquiries into the incident.
Following inquiries, about 11am yesterday (Saturday 25 January 2025), a search was undertaken in swampland in Harrington, where a sawn-off rifle was located and seized for forensic examination.
About 2.15pm, the 62-year-old man was arrested at a boat ramp in Harrington and taken to Taree Police Station.
He was charged with fire firearm in or near public place, possess shortened firearm, possess unregistered firearm, not keep firearm safely, acquire firearm part without authority to do so, and stalk/intimidate intend fear physical etc harm (domestic).
The man was refused bail to appear at Parramatta Local Court today (Sunday 26 January 2025).
Inquiries are ongoing.
