It could have been worse

Police warning over targeted suburban shooting

A SHOOTING in which a gunman fired three or four shots at a man smoking outside a Bridgewater house was lucky not to have been fatal, Tasmania Police say.

Acting Inspector David Gill said the man, 34, suffered pellet wounds to the left side of his body, between the knee and chest.

He said it was a targeted hit.

“His injuries are not lifethreatening and it is expected he will be released from the Royal Hobart Hospital in coming days,” Acting Inspector Gill said yesterday.

Police are seeking information about an early 1980s Corolla sedan, stolen from Mt Nelson early last week, from which the shots were fired at the house in Leyland Place on Sunday.

“We are seeking any information from anyone who may have seen the vehicle in the area in the early hours of Sunday,” Inspector Gill said.

The vehicle was recovered intact at Goodwood and seized for examination.

Inspector Gill said police believed the shooting was part of feud between two groups and related to an altercation about two weeks ago.

He said police would continue to investigate the crime despite not knowing whether the man wanted to make a complaint. “This is an incident Tasmania Police takes very seriously and will continue to investigate,” he said.

“This is not a random attack, it is as a result of two separate feuding parties and we believe the address was targeted.”

There were a number of people in the house but only one had provided a statement to police. The shots were fired from a distance of about 20m.

He said three shotgun shell casings had been recovered from the scene but some witnesses believed they had heard four shots. Information could be provided anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or to Glenorchy CIB.