Boy charged after shots fired at Perth home

Police charged the boy with eight offences, including unlawful use of a firearm and endangering life

By LineZotpaper

Published20 October 2026

Read Time2 min

A boy has been charged with eight offences after more than 20 shots were fired into a Gosnells home, Western Australian police say.

Police allege the shooting occurred at about 12.40am on Saturday, when bullets struck a bedroom window and wall at the suburban Perth property. Seven people, including children, were inside.

A man suffered minor injuries from shattered glass, but nobody was seriously hurt. Police do not believe the occupants were the intended targets.

The weapon has not been recovered.

Police arrested the teenager on Monday and charged him with eight offences, including unlawful use of a firearm, endangering life, possession of stolen property and driving without authority. He is due to reappear in Perth Children's Court next week.

WA Firearm Traders Association president Bevan Steele described the weapon allegedly used in the shooting as "a highly illicit firearm" and said it could only have entered Australia illegally.

"We haven't seen these firearms in WA, in the legal environment, since 1996 … if you had one of these on your dealer's licence, it is gone, well and truly," Steele said.

Category D semi-automatic rifles have been outlawed in Western Australia since firearm laws were tightened following the 1996 Port Arthur massacre. In WA, only police, the military and certain government agencies can legally use the long-arm weapons.

Police Minister Reece Whitby called the allegations "extremely concerning".

Analysis

Why This Matters

The case raises serious concerns about organised crime groups allegedly recruiting children to carry out violent offences.
The suspected use of a prohibited semi-automatic rifle puts scrutiny on how illicit firearms enter and circulate within Australia.
The investigation may establish whether others arranged the shooting, supplied the weapon or selected the target.

Background

Western Australia tightly restricts Category D semi-automatic rifles under firearm controls introduced after the Port Arthur massacre. Legal access is generally limited to police, the military and certain government agencies.

Children accused of criminal offences are dealt with through the youth justice system. The allegations against the boy remain before Perth Children's Court and have not been proven.

Key Perspectives

Investigators: Police are examining whether an underworld organisation recruited the teenager, supplied the rifle and sent collection and drop-off instructions electronically.

Firearms industry: WA Firearm Traders Association president Bevan Steele says the type of rifle allegedly involved is absent from the state's legal firearms market and is highly illicit.

Critics/Skeptics: The alleged access of a 13-year-old to a prohibited firearm has prompted concern from Police Minister Reece Whitby and raises broader public-safety questions about youth recruitment and illegal weapons.

What to Watch

Whether police recover the semi-automatic rifle or announce further arrests and charges.
The teenager's next appearance in Perth Children's Court next week.
Evidence identifying who allegedly supplied the firearm, issued the instructions and selected the intended target.

Sources

Gang arranged for 13yo to get semi-automatic rifle, police believe · Just In

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.

Show each claim

SupportedPolice are probing an alleged underworld-organisation role in the Perth shooting involving a 13-year-old.Just In: “WA police are investigating whether a 13-year-old Victorian boy allegedly involved in a drive-by shooting in suburban Perth on the weekend was recruited by an underworld organisation”
SupportedInvestigators believe an underworld organisation may have supplied the boy with a prohibited semi-automatic rifle.Just In: “Detectives believe the boy was recruited by an underworld organisation and given a pick-up and drop off location for the gun, the ABC understands.”
SupportedThe teenager allegedly used a semi-automatic rifle to fire more than 20 shots into a Gosnells home.Just In: “The boy allegedly used a semi-automatic rifle to fire more than 20 shots into a Gosnells house”
SupportedThe shooting occurred at about 12:40am on Saturday.Just In: “around 12:40am on Saturday.”
SupportedThe ABC understands detectives believe instructions for collecting and dropping off the firearm were delivered electronically.Just In: “The instructions are understood to have been delivered electronically.”
SupportedSeven people, including children, were inside the home.Just In: “Seven people were inside the home at the time, including children.”
SupportedA man suffered minor injuries from shattered glass, but nobody was seriously hurt.Just In: “One man received minor injuries from shattered glass, but no one was seriously hurt.”
SupportedThe ABC understands the boy’s family had moved him to WA only weeks earlier.Just In: “The ABC understands his family had only moved him to WA weeks ago.”
SupportedPolice arrested the teenager on Monday and charged him with eight offences, including the listed firearm, endangering-life, stolen-property and driving offences.Just In: “Police arrested the teenager on Monday and charged him with eight offences including unlawful use of a firearm, endangering life, possession of stolen property and no authority to drive.”
SupportedSteele described the weapon allegedly used as “a highly illicit firearm”.Just In: “Bevan Steele said the weapon allegedly used by the 13-year-old boy was “a highly illicit firearm””
SupportedSteele said: “We haven't seen these firearms in WA, in the legal environment, since 1996 … if you had one of these on your dealer's licence, it is gone, well and truly”.Just In: ““We haven't seen these firearms in WA, in the legal environment, since 1996 … if you had one of these on your dealer's licence, it is gone, well and truly,” Mr Steele said.”
SupportedPolice Minister Reece Whitby said: “A 13-year-old boy having access to a weapon like that and carrying out that act, allegedly, is extremely concerning”.Just In: ““A 13-year-old boy having access to a weapon like that and carrying out that act, allegedly, is extremely concerning,” Police Minister Reece Whitby said.”