A man has been left injured after his car was stolen at gunpoint in a brazen daylight attack in Tasmania’s north yesterday.
The man, believed to be from interstate, was driving down Victoria Street in Devonport when he was approached by another man reportedly armed with a firearm at 3:25pm on Sunday.
Police say the offender struck the victim over the head with the firearm before fleeing the scene in the vehicle, a black 2003 Mazda MX5 with white wheels and Victorian registration 1VX4DA.
Around 20 minutes later, 000 operators received a report of “loud bangs” in the area of Reibey Street in Latrobe.
“Police attended and determined a firearm had been discharged towards a residence,” a spokesperson said.
“Subsequent investigations determined the firearm had been discharged from the vehicle which had been stolen shortly prior.”
A large manhunt involving the Westpac Rescue Helicopter was then launched to find the offender, who remains on the run.
Acting Detective Inspector Alex Bonde said the incidents will “understandably be concerning to the community”.
“Police take every firearm incident in our community seriously and a thorough investigation is being undertaken to locate the offender involved.”
The offending man is described as around 178cm tall, around 40-years old, skinny with pale complexion, a long gaunt face and goatee beard.
Police are currently following a specific line of enquiry and believe the shooting was targeted and between people known to each other.
The stolen Mazda was last seen in the area of Smith and Others Road near Sassafras on Sunday afternoon.
“I ask anyone with information that would assist our investigation to come forward and contact us,” Bonde said.
“Specifically, if anyone has dashcam footage of the black Mazda MX5 travelling between Devonport and Sassafras or in the Latrobe area between 3:25pm and 4:00pm yesterday please contact police.”
Anyone who has seen the vehicle is asked not to approach it and to call police immediately.
