Police hunting shooter

POLICE are hunting a vehicle passenger who fired five shots into bushland at a Brinsmead soccer club only metres from where a homeless man was sleeping.

The man had been sheltering from overnight rain and sleeping at the Redlynch Cy- clones Football Club on Brinsmead Rd. He was woken just before 1am yesterday to the sound of gun shots.

Cairns police district duty officer Sen-Sgt Dion Readman said the man spotted a man shooting out of the passenger side of a dark vehicle before it was driven away.

“An itinerant person had been sleeping near the football club and he has been woken by a dark-coloured vehicle driving past and the passenger leaned out the window and fired several shots,” he said.

General officers and scenes of crime staff scoured the scene overnight and yesterday morning and seized five bullet casings.

Sen-Sgt Readman said the man had been concerned he had been targeted by the gunfire, but police believed it was random and the offender had been shooting at bushland.

“But this type of behaviour is dangerous to say the least,” he said. “Rounds can travel long distances.

“Even though it appears he was firing into bushland there are residents in that area.

“It’s very dangerous behaviour, especially from a moving vehicle. Depending on what type of weapon it was, they (bullets) can travel kilometres.”

He said the man had been unable to give an exact description of the car other than it was dark coloured.

Police have called on witnesses or anyone with information to come forward as they work to track the offender.

No one was injured. Anyone with information which could assist with this matter should contact Crime Stoppers via 1800 333 000 or visit the website crimestoppers.com.au