Police are searching for two men after a 37-year-old man was seriously injured in what investigators believe was a targeted shooting in Hamilton Hill, south of Perth.
Emergency services were called to a home on Owen Place at about 4.35am on Sunday after reports that a man had been shot.
The victim was found with a gunshot wound to the stomach and was given emergency treatment by police and St John WA paramedics before being taken to hospital with serious injuries.
Two Suspects Still at Large
Western Australia Police believe two men were involved in the shooting.
Both suspects were reportedly dressed entirely in black at the time of the incident.
A large number of officers were deployed to the area as police began an intensive search for the pair.
Residents were initially warned to remain indoors, lock their doors and windows and avoid the surrounding streets while the search operation was under way.
Police also asked members of the public to stay clear of the area while officers carried out enquiries and searched nearby properties and surrounding bushland.
Police Say Attack Appears Targeted
Detective Brian Connelly later said investigators believed the incident was isolated and that there was no continuing threat to the wider community.
According to police, the shooting appeared to have been directed at one particular person rather than being a random attack.
Investigators also believe the person responsible for shooting the victim knew him.
Police said the incident unfolded very quickly and was over within seconds.
Detectives are now trying to establish the circumstances leading up to the shooting and determine the identities and whereabouts of the two men they believe were involved.
Major Search Launched Around Hamilton Hill
Officers conducted an extensive search of the Hamilton Hill area following the shooting.
Several marked police vehicles were seen outside the Owen Place property as investigators examined the scene and carried out enquiries.
The area is close to a large firebreak and a network of walking tracks, which may complicate the search.
A local resident who lives less than a kilometre from the property said the surrounding tracks could provide multiple routes through the area.
The resident said people could move quickly through back fences, driveways and nearby bushland, making the location difficult to search.
Despite the initial warning for residents to stay inside, the local said the neighbourhood appeared relatively quiet later on Sunday morning.
Emergency Services Responded Before Dawn
Police and paramedics arrived at the property shortly after receiving the emergency call.
Officers and St John WA personnel provided immediate first aid before transporting the injured man to hospital.
Authorities have not released further details about his condition beyond describing his injuries as serious.
Investigators have also not publicly disclosed a possible motive for the shooting.
Residents Initially Told to Remain Indoors
The early-morning incident prompted an urgent safety alert for residents in the surrounding area.
Police initially advised people to stay inside their homes and secure their doors and windows while officers searched for the suspects.
The warning was later eased after detectives said they were confident the attack had been targeted and did not represent an ongoing danger to the broader public.
Nevertheless, police continued their search for the two suspects throughout the area.
Investigation Continues
Police are continuing to investigate the shooting and are working to establish the movements of the suspects before and after the attack.
Detectives are expected to review nearby CCTV footage, speak with witnesses and examine forensic evidence collected from the property.
Anyone who witnessed suspicious activity in Hamilton Hill around the time of the shooting, or who may have relevant dashcam or security-camera footage, is likely to be important to the investigation.
Hamilton Hill is located just south of Fremantle, roughly 20 kilometres south of Perth’s central business district.
The investigation remains ongoing as police continue efforts to locate the two men believed to have been involved.
