A man has been charged after shots were allegedly fired from a moving car in NSW’s Lake Macquarie.
Brandon Rogan is facing multiple charges after a tip from a member of the public regarding an online video. The clip allegedly shows a man aiming what seems to be a shotgun out of a window and firing it.
Authorities claim that the accused posted the video on social media, and a viewer forwarded it to law enforcement. The video is purported to have been recorded within the last day on a street in Toronto, approximately 28 kilometers from Newcastle.
Police were discreetly observing a white Mazda CX5 on Burley Street, Tenambit, when around 9:35 pm, a man fired a gun into the air from the stationary vehicle, according to police reports.
The car was then tracked via PolAir to a home on Coal Point Road in Coal Point.
Rogan, aged 26, was arrested after he walked out of the home about 5.15am.
The man has since been charged with 11 offences, including discharging a weapon in a public place, possessing an unauthorised gun, driving without a licence, speeding and take and drive conveyance without consent of the owner.
He was refused bail to appear before Toronto Local Court, however he did not face a magistrate today.
The accused has instead been taken to hospital for a mental health assessment.
A 22-year-old woman, who was inside the home with the man who was arrested, was also charged with conceal serious indictable offence and goods in personal custody suspected of being stolen.
She was also refused bail and faced court today.
Toronto local Sandra Barnard told 9News she was “horrified” that such an incident happened in her community.
Another witness reported hearing the alleged gunshots.
“We heard a loud sound, we came out⦠everything was normal,” Bibek Subedi said.
“We didn’t know it was a gun until today.”
Crime Manager for the Port Stephens and Hunter Police District Detective Ranald Urquhart told media the alleged actions in the video were “incredibly dangerous”.
“It is an incredibly dangerous offence and will be treated very seriously,” Urquhart 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.”
Urquhart said a shortened shotgun had been recovered following the man’s arrest, along with ammunition and a replica pistol.
Urquhart said police were canvassing for witnesses and CCTV of the incident.
There have been no reports of injury or property damage.
