Man shot in the head after running into old rival

Man shot in head

A police rescue team moves the father-in-law's body from the scene at Woolgoolga / Pic: Frank Redward Source: The Daily Telegraph

A SEARCH for a missing relative and a chance meeting with an old enemy resulted in the shooting of a young father in front of his partner and three children.

The man was last night undergoing surgery in Coffs Harbour Hospital after surviving being shot in the head at close range by an alleged former love rival.

The victim, his partner and their three children had returned to their home town of Mullaway, on the state's north coast this week after the partner's father went missing.

On Wednesday afternoon the family were at Woolgoolga headland as a police rescue team dragged a body from the water.

The victim, fearing it was his missing father-in-law, decided to drive to his home - in the hope he was there and the body wasn't his, or to shield the children if it was.

Police allege that, as the family drove off, former love rival Daniel Baird spotted the victim and followed the car.

It is alleged that the pair had previously fought over a woman they had both been involved with years ago. When they reached the home about 5.30pm, Baird allegedly confronted the victim while both men were sitting in their cars.

It is alleged the victim wound down his car window to ask Baird what he wanted, when Baird allegedly shot him. "The three kids were showered in their father's blood," the victim's father said last night.

The alleged gunman is reportedly the son of a local Finks bikie leader.

The victim's father said his son had never been in trouble with the law and had no links with outlaw motorcycle gangs.

"He is just your average bloke who loves his family. It's just a sad and tragic set of circumstances," he said.

Both police and the family said it was a cruel coincidence that the victim was shot just 3km away from where his father-in-law's body had been found. Police said there appeared to be no suspicious circumstances in the father-in-law's death. He was found fully clothed.

"It's just terrible bad luck," the victim's father said.

"But thankfully he (the victim) is going to be OK.

"His biggest concern is for the kids and how they will deal with being in the car when their father was shot."

Early yesterday afternoon police arrested the alleged gunman, who was later charged with shooting with intent to murder. He was expected to appear in Coff Harbour Local Court today.

Detective Inspector Cameron Lindsay said police could not say much about the case.

"It is now before the courts," he said.


Originally published as Shot in the head after run-in with rival