Not sure of his ethnicity but his name sounds suspect.
His SWAT hat is a classic!
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Tactical police and dozens of heavily armed police arrived to an active shooter incident in Croydon Park on Sunday evening. Picture: Richard Dobson
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Sydney Trains worker Artemios Mintzas has been charged with 18 counts of shoot at with intent to murder after allegedly firing up to 50 rounds indiscriminately at people in Sydney’s inner west on Sunday night.
The 60-year-old Transport for NSW customer service attendant was arrested after police stormed the unit in Croydon Park from which he had allegedly used a high-powered rifle to shoot into the street below, including at a police car called to the scene.
One man remains in a serious condition after being shot in the neck.
Police said the alleged gunman’s motive was still unclear, but he did not have known links to terrorist or gang groups.
Mr Mintzas was taken to Bankstown Hospital to be treated for injuries sustained during his arrest but later taken to Burwood Police Station, where he was charged late on Monday with 25 offences.
Artemios Mintzas. Picture: Supplied
Artemios Mintzas who was charged over the shooting in Croydon Park
In addition to the 18 counts of shoot at with intent to murder, Mr Mintzas was also charged with firing in a public place, discharging a firearm with intent to resist arrest and a number of other firearms offences.
Mr Mintzas was refused bail to appear at Burwood Local Court on Tuesday.
NSW Police Force Acting Superintendent Stephen Parry had earlier said the suspect had no reported mental health history with police.
Mr Mintzas was the sole occupant of the Georges River Road apartment from which the shots were fired, beginning at 7.30pm on Sunday, Superintendent Parry said.
A crime scene was active at Georges River Road in Croydon Park after a shooter perched on a rooftop opened fire on Sunday night. Picture: Rohan Kelly
One .30-calibre rifle was seized during the arrest, which did not have an automatic shooting capability or any modifications but could “fire in quick succession”, he said.
Police could not confirm whether Mr Mintzas had a gun licence because of to the pending investigation.
During the shooting, a man in his 50s was struck in the neck while sitting in the back seat of a vehicle on the passenger side.
He was rushed to Canterbury Hospital in a serious condition, before NSW Ambulance paramedics transported him to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery.
“They were a passenger in a vehicle which had a number of other family members in it. My understanding is that the injuries received are not life-threatening,” Superintendent Parry said.
“It would be highly traumatic, [for] a person in the back of their car who has been shot and has obviously suffered serious injuries.”
Over a “dozen others” were treated for minor injuries at the scene, and two others were treated and released from hospital, Superintendent Parry said.
It was “incredible” that no one died in the shooting, he said, crediting the strength of the police response.
“In my 35 years in the police, there have been very few incidents of this nature were somebody is randomly targeting people in the street, driving past in vehicles.”
The 60-year-old suspect was a Transport NSW employee and resided in the apartment from which he allegedly opened fire. Picture: Rohan Kelly
The Australian understands Mr Mintzas’s employment status is under review pending the outcome of the police investigation.
“Transport for NSW is aware of the arrest of an off-duty Sydney Trains employee at Croydon Park last night,” Transport for NSW said in a statement.
“Both agencies will assist NSW police with their investigation wherever needed.”
Residents told media on Sunday they heard a firearm being discharged from Mr Mintzas’s building about a week before the incident, but Superintendent Parry said the alleged gunman had “very few recorded interactions” with police.
“We have no reports of any discharge of firearms in that vicinity a week ago at all, so that incident may have taken place, but it certainly wasn’t reported to police,” Superintendent Parry said.
On Sunday evening, the suburb was promptly locked down by officers attached to Burwood and Inner West Police Area Commands, as dozens of heavily armed police took up positions in the street, a police helicopter circled above the Croydon Park and Campsie areas, and an armoured BearCat vehicle arrived on the scene about 7.45pm.
Public Order and Riot Squad personnel were also on scene, together with ambulance special operations paramedics.
The arrival of police on the scene “within minutes” and their bravery in the face of a “serious and terrifying” incident was commended by NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon.
“I’ve seen body-worn footage where police were forced to take cover while trying to assist members of the public … you can see police taking cover, hear numerous gunshots and certainly [hear] impact not too far from the cameras,” he told 2GB radio.
https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/journalists/ria-pandey
RIA PANDEY
His SWAT hat is a classic!
‘Intent to murder’: alleged Croydon Park shooter Artemios Mintzas charged
RIA PANDEYListen to this article
4 min
Tactical police and dozens of heavily armed police arrived to an active shooter incident in Croydon Park on Sunday evening. Picture: Richard Dobson
Gift this article
13 hours ago.
Updated 1 hours ago
Sydney Trains worker Artemios Mintzas has been charged with 18 counts of shoot at with intent to murder after allegedly firing up to 50 rounds indiscriminately at people in Sydney’s inner west on Sunday night.
The 60-year-old Transport for NSW customer service attendant was arrested after police stormed the unit in Croydon Park from which he had allegedly used a high-powered rifle to shoot into the street below, including at a police car called to the scene.
One man remains in a serious condition after being shot in the neck.
Police said the alleged gunman’s motive was still unclear, but he did not have known links to terrorist or gang groups.
Mr Mintzas was taken to Bankstown Hospital to be treated for injuries sustained during his arrest but later taken to Burwood Police Station, where he was charged late on Monday with 25 offences.
Artemios Mintzas. Picture: Supplied
Artemios Mintzas who was charged over the shooting in Croydon Park
In addition to the 18 counts of shoot at with intent to murder, Mr Mintzas was also charged with firing in a public place, discharging a firearm with intent to resist arrest and a number of other firearms offences.
Mr Mintzas was refused bail to appear at Burwood Local Court on Tuesday.
NSW Police Force Acting Superintendent Stephen Parry had earlier said the suspect had no reported mental health history with police.
Mr Mintzas was the sole occupant of the Georges River Road apartment from which the shots were fired, beginning at 7.30pm on Sunday, Superintendent Parry said.
A crime scene was active at Georges River Road in Croydon Park after a shooter perched on a rooftop opened fire on Sunday night. Picture: Rohan Kelly
One .30-calibre rifle was seized during the arrest, which did not have an automatic shooting capability or any modifications but could “fire in quick succession”, he said.
Police could not confirm whether Mr Mintzas had a gun licence because of to the pending investigation.
During the shooting, a man in his 50s was struck in the neck while sitting in the back seat of a vehicle on the passenger side.
He was rushed to Canterbury Hospital in a serious condition, before NSW Ambulance paramedics transported him to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery.
“They were a passenger in a vehicle which had a number of other family members in it. My understanding is that the injuries received are not life-threatening,” Superintendent Parry said.
“It would be highly traumatic, [for] a person in the back of their car who has been shot and has obviously suffered serious injuries.”
Over a “dozen others” were treated for minor injuries at the scene, and two others were treated and released from hospital, Superintendent Parry said.
It was “incredible” that no one died in the shooting, he said, crediting the strength of the police response.
“In my 35 years in the police, there have been very few incidents of this nature were somebody is randomly targeting people in the street, driving past in vehicles.”
The 60-year-old suspect was a Transport NSW employee and resided in the apartment from which he allegedly opened fire. Picture: Rohan Kelly
The Australian understands Mr Mintzas’s employment status is under review pending the outcome of the police investigation.
“Transport for NSW is aware of the arrest of an off-duty Sydney Trains employee at Croydon Park last night,” Transport for NSW said in a statement.
“Both agencies will assist NSW police with their investigation wherever needed.”
Residents told media on Sunday they heard a firearm being discharged from Mr Mintzas’s building about a week before the incident, but Superintendent Parry said the alleged gunman had “very few recorded interactions” with police.
“We have no reports of any discharge of firearms in that vicinity a week ago at all, so that incident may have taken place, but it certainly wasn’t reported to police,” Superintendent Parry said.
On Sunday evening, the suburb was promptly locked down by officers attached to Burwood and Inner West Police Area Commands, as dozens of heavily armed police took up positions in the street, a police helicopter circled above the Croydon Park and Campsie areas, and an armoured BearCat vehicle arrived on the scene about 7.45pm.
Public Order and Riot Squad personnel were also on scene, together with ambulance special operations paramedics.
The arrival of police on the scene “within minutes” and their bravery in the face of a “serious and terrifying” incident was commended by NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon.
“I’ve seen body-worn footage where police were forced to take cover while trying to assist members of the public … you can see police taking cover, hear numerous gunshots and certainly [hear] impact not too far from the cameras,” he told 2GB radio.
https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/journalists/ria-pandey
RIA PANDEY
