A man has suffered a gunshot wound to his leg after several shots were fired at a home in the NSW Hunter region as a family slept inside.
Emergency services were called to the Lake Macquarie property on Flame Street in Gateshead just after 4am.
A man, 41, was treated by paramedics for a gunshot wound to his leg.
Police were told the man and his family were asleep when they were woken by two loud noises.
They said the man was injured after a projectile came through the front window of the home.
The man was taken to hospital for further treatment, but his injuries are not considered life-threatening.
Darren Minns cares for his elderly mother, who lives two houses down the street from where the incident occurred.
He said it was concerning for locals.
"She said she heard the gunshots," Mr Minns said.
"She was terrified ... it woke her up, she was very disturbed.
"Imagine if they got the wrong house and shot mum, it's wrong."
Mr Minns grew up in Gateshead and said he had noticed a rise in crime in the region over the years.
"There was 50 kids in this street back in the day," he said.
"We had no issues.
"We shouldn't have to be putting up with [this]."
A crime scene has been set up and an investigation is underway.
Any witnesses, or anyone with information, is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
