1 month ago
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Heavily armed police searching for a gunman in Pinjarra have focused their attention on a house on Teague Street, with tactical response officers speaking with someone inside the property from behind a riot shield.
Helicopter vision of the unfolding incident – which has locked down parts of the town 85 kilometres south of Perth – earlier showed residents from the house being escorted across the road.
Tactical response officers outside a house in Pinjarra.Credit: 9 News Perth
It comes after WA Police issued a warning at 11.45am for people to avoid the area.
“Significant police resources are being deployed to the area,” a spokeswoman said.
“Anyone in the vicinity is urged to follow the instructions of police in the area.”
Police gathering outside a home on Teague Street. Credit: 9 News Perth
Mandurah District Acting Superintendent Darren Hart said police were first alerted to a man acting suspiciously at a house on Pollard Street at 9.30am, before it was reported the same man was seen on CCTV at 10.10am in a yard appearing to be holding a long-armed firearm.
“Police are investigating a report a projectile may have been discharged at that residence. There were no occupants inside the home at the time and no injuries have been reported to police,” he said.
“Members of the public in the Pinjarra area are urged to be aware of their surroundings and report any relevant information to police.
“If the man is sighted, members of the public should remain inside, hidden from sight and immediately call police on triple zero.”
Hart said police were looking for an 18-year-old local man who was not a registered firearms owner.
“We’ve spoken to a number of people close to [the teenager] and other people involved in the investigation, and we are receiving some assistance from family members and friends of people related to the investigation,” Hart said.
“I think the threat is minimal … it’s not a targeted series of events, they appear to be random.”
Residents at a nearby retirement village have been told to remain inside and lock their doors, while those at a nearby caravan park said they had not been advised about any lockdowns or potential evacuation.
Search is second major gunman hunt in a week
The incident is the second firearms-related police operation in the past week, with Kenneth Giles still on the run after allegedly shooting a woman, believed to be his partner, in the hand on Wednesday.
That incident occurred in Mullewa, an agricultural town in the state’s Mid West region.
The experienced bushman has so far evaded significant police resources deployed to find him.
On Monday, Acting Superintendent Ben Huggett issued a fresh plea for Giles to hand himself in, reassuring Giles that only one person was injured in the event.
“I urge you to contact police so we can sort this out,” he said.
“This has gone on long enough, you must be uncomfortable out there, you must be anxious.”
Huggett said on Monday police believed Giles remained in the Mid West region.
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