05-05-2025
Shocking moment bearded man fires shotgun from a moving car
A man and woman faced court on Monday after shots were allegedly fired from a vehicle at various locations on the outskirts of Newcastle, NSW.
Police launched an investigation a video circulated on social media, sparking a tip-off from a concerned member of the public on Sunday evening.
The footage showed a man behind the wheel of a vehicle, firing a gun out the window on two separate occasions, before he could be heard saying, 'Oops'.
The first is believed to have happened at 4pm on Sunday while driving in Toronto on the Central Coast with the second at 9:35pm in Tenambit in Maitland on the Hunter.
At 2:35am on Monday, Port Stephens police officers put a white Mazda CX5 under covert surveillance in Burley Street, Tenambit.
It is alleged that while sitting in the parked vehicle, the man fired a single shot into the air.
The car was then tracked by PolAir to a home on Coal Point Road, Coal Point, south of Newcastle.
Specialist police units, including the Tactical Operations Unit, surrounded the property.
At around 5:15am, a 27-year-old man emerged from the house and was arrested without incident.
Shortly after, officers entered the property and arrested a 22-year-old woman in connection with the investigation.
During a subsequent search of the home and property, officers allegedly located a firearm, ammunition, and a replica pistol.
Police also alleged the man was disqualified from driving in NSW, had a Firearms Prohibition order, and was also driving the car without permission.
The 27-year-old has been charged with 11 offences, including Possession of an unauthorised prohibited firearm and reckless driving.
Detective Ranald Urquhart, Crime Manager for the Port Stephens and Hunter Police District, condemned the footage, branding it 'deeply concerning'.
'It is an incredibly dangerous offence and will be treated very seriously,' Detective Urquhar said.
'It most definitely is not a giggle. It's a very, very serious offence.'
'Social media can be a bit of a double edged sword, it can be used for some persons for notoriety but it can also… assist police when it comes to offences and identifying offenders.'
