A man has been charged after police uncovered an alleged photo of him posing with a toddler holding a gun, during an investigation into a fatal shooting earlier this year under Strike Force Hackenburg.
Strike Force Hackenburg was established by State Crime Command's Criminal Groups Squad to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting death of 24-year-old Marvin Oraiha in Elizabeth Hills on Monday 22 May 2023.
On Wednesday 12 July 2023, strike force officers executed seven search warrants at homes across Roselands, Edensor Park, Green Valley, Yagoona, Liverpool, Merrylands and Guildford.
A 22-year-old man was charged at that time and remains before the courts.
At the Yagoona address, police located a number of items including a ballistic vest, ammunition, and six mobile phones – which were seized for further examination.
During later analysis of the mobile phones, detectives located several images allegedly showing a 21-year-old man holding two pistols in the company of a young child, who was also holding a third glock-style pistol.
Police will allege the images were taken on Sunday 21 May 2023.
Following further inquiries, just after 6am today (Tuesday 1 August 2023), strike force detectives – with assistance from Raptor Squad – executed a search warrant at a home in Yagoona, where they arrested a 21-year-old man.
He was taken to Bankstown Police Station where he was charged with 13 offences including four counts of possess unauthorised pistol, two counts of not keep firearm safely-pistol, three counts of unauthorised person fail to surrender firearm, not keep firearm safely-pistol, supply pistol to person unauthorised to possess it, possess ammunition w/o holding licence/permit/authority, and possess or use a prohibited weapon without permit.
The man was refused bail to appear before Bankstown Local Court today.
Strike Force Hackenburg falls under Task Force Magnus, which was established last week to target and disrupt gun-related and violent crime, and to investigate links between the recent spate of shootings.
Investigations under Strike Force Hackenburg and Task Force Magnus continue.
