Robbery and Serious Crime Squad detectives have charged a man accused of shooting another man during an armed robbery at a hotel on the state's south coast.
About 10.30pm on Friday 20 March 2026, emergency services were called to a hotel on Campbell Street, Narooma, following reports of a shooting.
On arrival, officers attached to South Coast Police District located a 31-year-old man with a gunshot wound.
He was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being taken to Moruya Hospital in a stable condition.
Police were told an unknown man had entered the hotel, before allegedly shooting at the 31-year-old and stealing an amount of cash.
He then threatened patrons inside the premises and demanded money before leaving the scene.
The unknown man then approached a 17-year-old driver of a Toyota Landcruiser in a carpark adjacent to the hotel, where he produced a firearm and demanded the teenager get out of the vehicle.
The man then left the scene in the vehicle.
A short time later, the vehicle was located on fire on the Princes Highway, Narooma. The fire was extinguished by Fire and Rescue NSW.
The matter was investigated by local police before it was handed over to State Crime Command's Robbery and Serious Crime Squad under Strike Force Cornto.
Following extensive inquiries, about 7.10pm yesterday (Monday 30 March 2026) strike force detectives – with assistance of the Tactical Operations Unit and detectives from South Coast Police District – arrested a 31-year-old man on Bronte Crescent, Sunshine Bay.
A short time later, police executed a search warrant at a home on Billaroy Road, Cobargo, seizing items believed to have been used in the alleged offence.
He was taken to Batemans Bay Police Station, where he was charged with assault with intent to rob armed offensive weapon wound / grievous bodily harm, robbery while armed with dangerous weapon, fire firearm in or near public place and robbery while armed with dangerous weapon.
The 31-year-old man was refused bail to appear at Bail Division Local Court 3 today (Tuesday 31 March 2026).
Anyone with information that may assist investigations into organised criminal activity is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is managed on a confidential basis. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
