Alleged gunman charged with 25 offences after terrifying inner west shooting spree

Police have laid a suite of charges against a 60-year-old man who allegedly opened fire on pedestrians, drivers and police on a busy inner west street on Sunday evening.

Artemios Mintzas was charged on Monday night at Burwood Police Station with 25 offences after he allegedly fired dozens of bullets with a high-calibre rifle from his Croydon Park apartment, where he lived alone.

Of the 25 charges against Mintzas, eighteen are shooting at with intent to murder. Other charges include one count of fire a firearm in or near a public place, possess an unregistered firearm, fire a firearm at house with disregard for safety, and discharge a firearm with intent to resist arrest, in addition to three more.

He was released from hospital into police custody on Monday morning and was later charged and refused bail to appear at Burwood Local Court on Tuesday.

Croydon Park was plunged into lockdown just after 7.45pm on Sunday following reports of an active shooter.

Locals ran and ducked for cover as the alleged gunman fired shots from the window of a unit above a business on Georges River Road, with bullets striking vehicles and a nearby bus shelter.

During the alleged ordeal, a passenger in a passing car was admitted to hospital after being allegedly struck by bullets in the neck and chest. The person is expected to survive after undergoing surgery on Monday morning.

At least one bullet allegedly hit a police car as locals ran for cover while windows shattered around them.

In dramatic video of the gunman’s arrest about 9.30pm, police can be heard yelling at the man not to move and to place his hands out of the shattered glass window.

“Stay down … hands out the window,” police yelled.

Numerous victims suffered facial injuries caused by glass broken in the shooting that started about 7.30pm at Croydon Park.

A .30-calibre rifle was allegedly seized from the property after tactical police stormed the building and arrested the man two hours after the alleged shooting spree began.

Mintzas has two adult children and works as a customer service attendant for Sydney Trains.

Acting Superintendent Stephen Parry said on Monday police had “very few recorded interactions” over the past 20 years with the man, whom they allege triggered a “highly dangerous operation” in which emergency responders were at “serious risk of death or injury”.

“One shot was fired through the window [of] one of the police cars … if the police vehicle was occupied, that police officer in all likelihood would have sustained fatal injuries,” Parry said.

“It’s incredible that nobody has died or received significant injuries in relation to this.”

Parry said that, following initial calls from residents who could hear gun shots, police rushed to the apartment building on Georges River Road, with the gunman continuing to fire.

The bullets narrowly missed them, but their police car was struck, Parry alleged.

“The police were actually outside their vehicle when they were first shot at. They’ve retreated tactically and safely,” he said.

Parry said there were two active crime scenes, including the apartment and an adjacent business on Georges River Road. He said examination of the crime scenes would determine the number of gunshots, but said an estimated 50 bullets were fired, including those fired by police. Police initially estimated 100 rounds might have been discharged.

Locals said more than 30 police vehicles arrived in the area, and special tactical police were also deployed. Officers developed a plan to storm the building and arrested the man two hours later, seizing the weapon.

“A long arm, high-calibre rifle has been seized from the scene. At this stage, there are a number of vehicles, a number of premises, which have seen sustained gunshot damage,” Parry said.

A motive for the accused is yet to be determined, though Parry said the alleged attack was not motivated against police. Police have not found any manifestos or documentation that would point to a motive, and Mintzas had no reported mental health history with police.

NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said it was a “serious and terrifying incident for those involved”, and the attack had “no known link” to terrorism or gang activity.

‘Some guy’s windshield blew up, then the bus stop glass shattered.’

Witness Joe Azar

“I’ve seen body-worn footage where police were forced to take cover while trying to assist members of the public,” Lanyon told 2GB on Monday morning.

“To show that sort of bravery, to put their lives in danger to assist members of the public is probably the greatest honour we can do as police officers.”

Lanyon was joined by Premier Chris Minns at Burwood police station on Sunday night. Minns visited the responders after the NRL grand final.

Minns praised the police and emergency services who faced the “confronting and dangerous situation”, saying they responded “without hesitation to protect the community”.

“There is no place for this sort of violence in our state,” Minns said.

Acting Assistant Commissioner Trent King said police were investigating how the accused may have procured the firearm and ammunition allegedly used in the shooting, calling it a “horrific situation” that was “almost unprecedented in Sydney”.

“I’m certainly proud in terms of the police response,” King told Nine’s Today program on Monday. “It could have been far worse.”

NSW Ambulance Superintendent John Millevoi said one alleged victim in their 50s went to Canterbury Hospital with gunshot wounds to their neck and chest, and was then taken to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. The person underwent surgery on Sunday night.

“From the information I heard, [they were] in a critical condition,” Millevoi said.

Three patients with less serious injuries went to Campsie police station, he said. Two of those had facial injuries caused by broken glass and were taken to Canterbury Hospital.

Paramedics treated 20 people at the scene, ranging from minor injuries to shock. Of those, five were taken to hospital for further treatment.

Michelle, a local, said she was walking along the street when bullets started flying, hitting concrete within a metre of her.

“I saw the bullets had hit, and the cement had actually sprayed out,” she said.

Office worker Joe Azar said he was working in the Citywide Lending mortgage broker across the road when he heard what he thought were fireworks or rocks being thrown at the windows.

He said his group tried to leave the building before realising they were gunshots.

“Some guy’s windshield blew up, then the bus stop glass shattered,” Azar said. “The surreal feeling kicked in like, ‘Oh, this is what’s happening.’ ”

Azar said the group ran back inside, lay on the ground and called police who told them to stay on the floor.

“It was frantic … it all happened so quick, so I couldn’t comprehend what was going on,” he said.

Azar said about one hour after the shooting stopped, police gave them the all-clear to exit the building.

Local Matt Iocco said he heard loud bangs on Georges River Road.

“People ducked behind cars and hid,” Iocco said.

During the chaos, text messages were sent to residents as a police helicopter circled overhead.

“The public is urged to shelter in place,” the text read. Motorists were also urged to stay away.

Georges River Road was closed between Croydon Avenue and Seymour Street on Sunday night, and Brighton Avenue was closed between Georges River Road and Queensborough Road. They have since reopened.

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