BREAKING:
MAJOR Crime Squad detectives are investigating the fatal shooting of a man in Darlington yesterday after junior football players training on the village oval evacuated when shots were heard near the tennis courts on Owen Road.
Police Internal Affairs Unit is conducting a separate inquiry into the shooting. Assistant Commissioner Michelle Fyfe will hold a media conference about the incident at 10am today.
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READ NOWActing Inspector Andrew Maher said police stopped a Ford Falcon sedan at about 5.30pm on April 13 and a 29-year-old man in the passenger side was armed with a shotgun.
He said the officers have fired their weapons and the man received a number of gunshot wounds.
Police administered first aid and St Johns Ambulance attended, but the man died at the scene.
The Hills Gazette spoke to Darlington Junior Football Club coach Heath Dullard who said he heard four shots fired.
“A team was training right next to the tennis courts and after the shots were fired the team came running over saying gunshots, gunshots,” he said.
“We evacuated all players to the pavilion.”
Father-of-two Garret Strange said he saw a man on the ground handcuffed.
“Another man looked like he had been shot and there was a lady standing by screaming,” he said.
“The kids were really good about it, they didn’t get freaked out, they have seen it so many times on the TV before.”
Parent Joe Meagher said the Hills village was normally very quiet.
“A SWAT vehicle was in attendance, a few ambulances and a swarm of cop cars,” he said.
”A few of the kids were pretty traumatised by what happened.”
One witness said it was extremely lucky there were no children playing on the tennis courts.
“There are normally loads of kids playing on the courts as well as the nearby park,” she said.
“It’s lucky no one else was hurt.”
A WA Police spokesman said police remained at the scene last night and cordoned off the local playground.
The drama unfolded early last night when junior football players training at Darlington Oval were evacuated after several shots were fired near the tennis courts on Pine Terrace.
There were reports a man in his 30s was taken to Midland Hospital by ambulance.
Darlington Bushrangers coach Heath Dullard said he heard four shots fired.
“A team was training right next to the tennis courts and after the shots were fired the team came running over saying gunshots, gunshots,” he said.
“We evacuated all players to the pavilion.”
Father-of-two Garret Strange said he saw a man on the ground handcuffed.
“Another man looked like he had been shot and there was a lady standing by screaming,” he said.
“The kids were really good about it, they didn’t get freaked out, they have seen it so many times on the TV before.”
Parent Joe Meagher said the Hills village was normally very quiet.
“A SWAT (Tactical Operations Group) vehicle was in attendance, a few ambulances and a swarm of cop cars left a few of the kids pretty traumatised by what happened.”
One witness said it was extremely lucky there were no children playing on the tennis courts.
“There is normally loads of kids playing on the courts as well as the adjacent park,” she said.
“It’s a miracle no one else was hurt.”
Police remain on the scene and have cordoned off the local playground.
The last official word from police came at about 6.45pm, with media officer Sam Dinnison saying a man had been shot and further information would be released once investigators knew more.