Western Australia's Cold Case Squad has launched a fresh investigation into a dramatic 2007 incident where burglary suspects fired a shotgun at police officers before crashing their vehicle in the Perth suburb of Haynes.
The Night That Shook Haynes
On the evening of October 26, 2007, police responded to reports of a burglary in progress at a home on Aikman Road in Langford. What began as a routine call quickly escalated into one of the most dangerous encounters officers had faced that year.
As police arrived at the scene, they spotted a suspicious vehicle fleeing the area. Officers immediately initiated a pursuit that would span multiple suburbs and end in violence. The chase continued through several residential areas before reaching its climax in Haynes.
Dangerous Escalation and Dramatic Crash
During the pursuit, one of the occupants of the fleeing vehicle produced a shotgun and fired at the pursuing police cars. The shotgun blast was directed at officers, creating an extremely dangerous situation for both police and the public.
The incident reached its dramatic conclusion when the suspects' vehicle crashed, allowing the occupants to flee on foot into nearby bushland. Despite an extensive search involving multiple police units and the police helicopter, the offenders managed to escape capture.
Police later confirmed that the burglary had occurred between 7:30pm and 8:00pm on that Friday evening, with the pursuit and shooting unfolding shortly afterward.
New Hope for Justice After 17 Years
Now, nearly seventeen years later, the Cold Case Squad is revisiting the unsolved case, believing that time and changed circumstances might encourage someone with information to come forward.
Detectives are particularly interested in speaking with anyone who might have witnessed suspicious activity in the Langford or Haynes areas on that October evening, or who might have heard conversations about the incident in the years since.
The original investigation recovered significant evidence, including the shotgun used in the offense, but crucial questions about the identities of all involved parties remain unanswered.
Police have emphasized that even the smallest piece of information could prove vital to solving this case. They're appealing to anyone who has remained silent until now to reconsider their position and help bring closure to this dangerous incident that threatened the lives of police officers and the community.
