A 31-year-old man is expected to be charged with the alleged shooting murder of a man in Wellington last year.
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About 4.30pm on April 27, 2020, police were called to Wellington Base Hospital after a man presented with a gunshot wound to his abdomen.
Despite the efforts of hospital staff, the man was unable to be revived.
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The man has since been formally identified as 48-year-old Wellington resident, Frank Smith.
Initial inquiries began by officers from Orana Mid-Western Police District before detectives from the State Crime Command's Homicide Squad took carriage of the investigation under Strike Force Libani.
Earlier this year, investigators recovered a firearm which was ballistically linked to the murder of Mr Smith.
Following extensive inquiries and public appeals for information, detectives arrested a 31-year-old man Wellington man just before 11am on Wednesday on Gisborne Street near the KFC.
He was taken to Wellington Police Station and is expected to be charged with murder.
Homicide Squad Detective Inspector Virginia Gorman said its believed the alleged offender was known to Mr Smith.
Initial inquiries led police believe Mr Smith may have been shot on Reid Street before collapsing in the front yard of a home on Thornton Street, before he was driven to the hospital by a neighbour.
Inspector Gorman is appealing to anyone with information to contact police.
"We would like people who have information in Wellington to come forward and speak to us now about the information that they do have," he said.
"Even if they have been spoken to before if they have information then we'd definitely like to speak to them again."
Zaarkacha Marlan
Court and crime reporter at the Daily Liberal. Formerly the sole journalist for the Nyngan Observer, Narromine News and Trangie Advocate.
Court and crime reporter at the Daily Liberal. Formerly the sole journalist for the Nyngan Observer, Narromine News and Trangie Advocate.
