Aboriginal children in Rockhampton, Queensland have been shot in an alleged racially-motivated assault on Australia Day according to The Australian and The Advertiser. The first attack was reported the day after Australia Day, while a second assault was only revealed to have occurred days later when the child concerned reported to hospital after having heard of the first attack.
Child shot in alleged racist attack
By Steve Connolly
January 27, 2006AN Aboriginal boy was shot in the back with an airgun pellet in an alleged random, racist attack on Australia Day, a Queensland court heard today.
Hayden John Nitz, 17, today faced the Rockhampton Magistrates’ Court charged with unlawful wounding and weapons offences.
Police prosecutor Senior Constable Darrell Dalton told the court Mr Nitz allegedly fired at the 13-year-old boy with an air rifle yesterday in a drive-by shooting outside a house on Alexandra Street, North Rockhampton.
The boy was allegedly hit in the back and the pellet pierced his skin under the armpit.
He is reported to be in a serious but stable condition in the Rockhampton Base Hospital.
Snr Const Dalton said Mr Nitz was in a car with other people being sought by police when the shooting occurred.
He said Mr Nitz, of Rockhampton, and his alleged accomplices had intended to “shoot indigenous persons”.
…He was remanded in custody to face Rockhampton Magistrates’ Court again on April 3.
News.com.au reports that there will be ‘New charges over girl’s shooting’ (January 29):
AN Aboriginal girl initially treated for an insect sting has had surgery to remove an air-gun pellet fired at her in a string of suspected racist shootings on Australia Day.
Five men already charged over the identical shooting of a 13-year-old Aboriginal boy in the same city will again face court on Tuesday over the attack on the girl.
Police allege the two teenagers were among eight people who were fired upon in the central Queensland city of Rockhampton on Thursday. The other six were not hit.
It emerged today that the 15-year-old girl sought treatment at Rockhampton Hospital on Australia Day, believing she’d been stung by an insect.
Medical staff put a band-aid on her wound and sent her home.
But the girl contacted police when she saw a media report about the air-gun attack on the 13-year-old.
When she returned to hospital an x-ray revealed an air-gun pellet was lodged in her back. “She thought she was stung,” said Central Queensland Crime Co-ordinator Detective Inspector Mick Niland.
“She went up to the hospital and they put a band-aid on it.”
The girl was expected to be discharged from hospital today after the pellet was successfully removed.
Five youths have been charged over the attack on the 13-year-old boy.
The same five will face court on Tuesday, where charges will be laid over the shooting of the 15-year-old girl.
Two of the five – Hayden John Nitz and Timothy Perry, both 17 – have already faced Rockhampton Magistrates Court on charges stemming from the attack on the boy…
