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National

New South Wales teen charged after allegedly shooting drivers with nail gun on M1 motorway

A teenager's alleged drive-by shooting spree with a nail gun on the NSW Central Coast could have resulted in "significant injury or death", a court has heard.

Reid Partlett was allegedly one of several people, including his boss, travelling in a white Mitsubishi truck when he fired nails from the vehicle at passing drivers.

Police allege he shot at two motorists who were driving northbound on the M1 motorway, between Somersby and Ourimbah, on Monday afternoon.

Mr Partlett, 19, has been charged with offences including assault occasioning actual bodily harm in company following his arrest yesterday.

A 57-year-old man, who was driving a sedan with the window down, reported to police that he was shot in the right arm with a nail, as a white Mitsubishi truck passed him.

Shortly later, a 52-year-old man, who was driving near Ourimbah, reported to police he felt something hit the top of his head, causing him to briefly lose control of his vehicle.

The man also allegedly saw a male passenger in a Mitsubishi truck leaning out of the window before allegedly firing two more shots in his direction, causing his passenger side window to shatter.

Police were notified about 4:10pm and 20 minutes later, officers found the white Mitsubishi truck at the Sparks Road commuter car park in Jilliby.

Police allege they were talking to people in the truck before Mr Partlett ran across the road and climbed over a wire fence.

They chased him on foot before arresting him with the use of capsicum spray.

Mr Partlett was taken to Wyong Police Station and charged with two counts of being armed with intent to commit an indictable offence, two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm in company, two counts of malicious damage and having an outstanding warrant.

Police confirmed that he was today charged with three additional offences, including two counts of use weapon to commit indictable offence, and hinder police in execution of duty.

The teenager faced Wyong Local Court this afternoon, where he sat in the dock of dressed in his hi-vis work clothes.

Prosecutor Patrick Fairbairn opposed a bail application, telling the court Mr Partlett was charged with "serious offences for which a custodial sentence would be a certainty".

"If bail was granted the accused would pose a danger to the safety of the community," he said.

Magistrate Steven Olischlager refused bail, saying Mr Partlett's alleged actions were "serious matters and could have resulted in significant injury or death".

Mr Partlett will next face court on January 24.

Scene where teenager allegedly shot drivers with nail gun and escaped
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