Gunman outside school gates a new low for criminals, says former detective
Updated . First published at
One of Australia’s most respected former detectives says criminals stooped to a new low when a gunman attempted to kill a man while he was collecting his daughter from school.
Gary Jubelin told Today this morning that this week’s attempted shooting in western Sydney shows “the playbook’s been thrown out the window” by organised crime gangs.
“This is what happens when organised crime and gangland violence overspills ... innocent people can potentially get caught up,” he said.
A gunman reportedly ran up to the father and daughter before pointing a handgun at them during school pickup. 9News
Police were called about 3pm on Tuesday after a man aimed a handgun towards a man, aged 44, sitting in a ute beside his 15-year-old daughter, parked near a Fairfield school.
Investigators believe the gunman, dressed in black and wearing a balaclava, attempted to fire the weapon but it jammed, causing him to flee shortly after.
CCTV footage shows the pair running away from the gunman after as they fled the vehicle.
Police believe the father was targeted because he is related to organised crime figures. There is no suggestion that the target is himself involved in organised crime.
Jubelin, a former NSW Police detective chief inspector, says the incident involving a child show any ‘code of conduct’ followed by criminals was now redundant.
“It looks like the playbook’s been thrown out the window ... old-school criminals would’ve been mortified that potentially families and innocent people get caught up in this type of violence,” he said.
Police are appealing for anyone who witnessed the incident, or who has relevant information or dashcam vision from the area about the time of the incident, to call Fairfield Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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