Boy and man charged after weekend away turns tragic

Mohamed Fattah, the nine-year-old boy who died in an accidental shooting on Sunday, was on a weekend away with relatives before the tragedy.

In a tribute on social media today, Mohamed’s mother remembered him as a “very cheeky son”.

Affectionately known as Moey, the boy was on a weekend away with relatives at their family farm.

As they were packing their car to return home to Sydney about 11am, a 14-year-old boy who was with them allegedly picked up a gun from inside the vehicle and it discharged.

Police will allege he didn’t know it was loaded and Mohamed was shot in the neck.

Mohamed was treated for serious neck injuries by paramedics but died at the scene.

Following the shooting, a 14-year-old boy and a 33-year-old man were arrested and taken to Goulburn Police Station.

The 14-year-old was charged with possessing an unauthorised firearm, while the 33-year-old man was charged with allowing an unauthorised person to possess a firearm and not keeping a firearm safely.

Both will appear before the courts.

NSW Premier Chris Minns offered his condolences to Mohamed’s family and reiterated the need for people to comply with gun laws.

“It’s a very troubling story and a life has been lost as a result,” he said.

“These are dangerous weapons, everyone must comply with the laws, they’re in place for a reason to keep people safe.

“I’m sure this was a terrible, terrible accident, but a life’s been lost as a result.

“We need to make sure that under all circumstances, everybody in the state complies with the law when it comes to firearms, it’s not designed to get in the way, it’s designed to save lives.”