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.<\/p>\n
Child shot in alleged racist attack<\/a>
\nBy Steve Connolly
\nJanuary 27, 2006<\/p>\nAN 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.<\/p>\n
Hayden John Nitz, 17, today faced the Rockhampton Magistrates’ Court charged with unlawful wounding and weapons offences.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The boy was allegedly hit in the back and the pellet pierced his skin under the armpit.<\/p>\n
He is reported to be in a serious but stable condition in the Rockhampton Base Hospital.<\/p>\n
Snr Const Dalton said Mr Nitz was in a car with other people being sought by police when the shooting occurred.<\/p>\n
He said Mr Nitz, of Rockhampton, and his alleged accomplices had intended to “shoot indigenous persons”.<\/p>\n
…He was remanded in custody to face Rockhampton Magistrates’ Court again on April 3.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
News.com.au<\/a> reports that there will be ‘New charges over girl’s shooting’ (January 29):<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Medical staff put a band-aid on her wound and sent her home.<\/p>\n
But the girl contacted police when she saw a media report about the air-gun attack on the 13-year-old.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
“She went up to the hospital and they put a band-aid on it.”<\/p>\n
The girl was expected to be discharged from hospital today after the pellet was successfully removed.<\/p>\n
Five youths have been charged over the attack on the 13-year-old boy.<\/p>\n
The same five will face court on Tuesday, where charges will be laid over the shooting of the 15-year-old girl.<\/p>\n
Two of the five \u2013 Hayden John Nitz and Timothy Perry, both 17 \u2013 have already faced Rockhampton Magistrates Court on charges stemming from the attack on the boy…<\/p><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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 … Continue reading