October 19, 2026 — 5:54am
Police have arrested a 32-year-old man who they suspect roamed Dulwich Hill with a sawn-off shotgun on Friday after allegedly threatening to shoot three people over a stolen van, triggering an hours-long lockdown in the suburb.
The manhunt began after 10.20am on Friday when the man was allegedly confronted over a stolen van taken from a nearby inner west suburb days earlier.
He allegedly set fire to the van, near an apartment complex at Williams Parade and Constitution Road in Dulwich Hill, and waved the shotgun at three witnesses, before fleeing on foot with the weapon.
Nearby businesses, cafes and schools were put into lockdown on Friday as tactical police, along with the police helicopter, combed nearby streets for the alleged gunman. The lockdown was lifted about 3pm that day.
About 11.30pm on Sunday, detectives under Strike Force Ranilo arrested the 32-year-old on Burwood Road in Burwood after he allegedly tried to evade police again. Police are continuing their search for the shotgun, which wasn’t found during the arrest.
The man was taken to Concord Hospital for injuries suffered in the arrest, before he was transferred to Newtown Police Station. He is yet to be charged.
Police had released a CCTV image of a man fleeing the scene on Friday, as they desperately worked to find him.
The van set alight in the confrontation has been seized by police for forensic examination, after the blaze was extinguished by firefighters. Evidence gathered from the car is expected to assist the investigation under Strike Force Ranilo, and form part of the case against the man.
Daniel Lo Surdo is a breaking news reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald. He previously helmed the national news live blog for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.Connect via email.