Shooting of boy, 11, a 'tragic reminder' of gun danger

An 11-year-old boy suffered a gunshot wound to the face after being shot inside a luxury apartment in Sydney's Hills District on Monday evening. Emergency services found him critically injured and rushed him to the hospital. Police arrived on the scene and discovered four 18-year-old men and a 44-year-old woman present at the residence.

Three of the 18-year-olds were arrested, while two were released pending further investigation. One of the arrested 18-year-olds was charged with concealing a serious indictable offence and remains in custody to face Blacktown Local Court on Tuesday.

The NSW Premier, Chris Minns, expressed his condolences, stating that the incident is a tragic reminder of the danger of guns. He urged anyone with information about the shooting to come forward, as the adults involved were not cooperating with the police. Superintendent Naomi Moore confirmed that the boy's mother was distressed and by his side in the hospital, describing the situation as absolutely tragic.

Detectives did not suspect the shooting was related to organized crime but emphasized that they would not speculate on the circumstances. Police have established a crime scene, and an ongoing investigation is underway. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers or Lifeline for support.