A Western Sydney family’s house has been shot up in a drive-by shooting in what police said appears to be a case of mistaken identity.
The woman and her four young children had their Crossland Street house peppered with bullets in the attack in Merrylands early on Saturday morning.
NSW Police confirmed the woman and her children were not the intended targets of the attack and an investigation has been launched to determine who was behind it.
Dramatic footage has since emerged of a suspected getaway car being set alight by hooded figures in a nearby street.
Nobody was injured during the ordeal despite a number of the bullets entering the family’s home, Detective Superintendent Simon Glasser said.
‘This was a highly reckless and violent attack on an innocent family,’ he said.
‘We believe there was a targeted attack. However, the target of the attack had moved out of that residence some months ago.’
Superintendent Glasser said the family were ‘very shaken’ after being ‘caught in the crossfire’.
Officers believe they know who was the intended target of the attack and said they were well-known to police.
A woman and her four young children have been caught in the crosshairs of a suspected drive-by shooting in Sydney’s west early Saturday morning
Several cars were found by officers set alight in a neighbouring suburb shortly after the shooting
Police said they are working to firm up how the shooting was linked to gangland activities.
‘That is part of our investigation and part of our inquiries — as to whether it is organised crime related,’ Superintendent Glasser said.
‘However, we do believe we know who the target is, and it’s not someone who resides at that address’.
Two men dressed in dark clothing are believed to have carried out the attack and their weapon of choice was a ‘rifle of some description’ the superintendent added.
Shortly after the shooting police were called to nearby Chiswick Road, in the suburb of Granville, where they found multiple cars on fire.
Detectives are now reviewing CCTV footage from the area.
A silver or grey Nissan X-Trail has been identified as having been driven in the area at the time of the shooting.
The same vehicle was also found set alight in Granville.
Officers have established two crime scenes and are now investigating whether the attack is related to organised crime
Superintendent Glasser said the Nissan had been stolen months ago before it was eventually dumped after the shooting.
Police are trying to determine whether another vehicle was used during the suspect’s getaway.
‘It’s just a street where they decided to do it [dump the car] and were able to escape through bushland, east towards Auburn,’ Superintendent Glasser said.
‘All we know at this point is they left Chiswick Road on foot.’
Crime scenes have been established at the residence of the shooting and where officers found the cars burning.
Investigations remain ongoing.
‘We’re investigating this with the seriousness that it deserves and we will be coming for them,’ Superintendent Glasser said.
Anyone with information on the shooting has been urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000
