Woman hit in dining drive-by

By Kelly Yates
POLICE are hunting for a drive-by shooter who wounded a woman after firing a slug gun at a crowd of people outside a Berwick restaurant.
The Cranbourne woman was hit in the chin as she wined and dined with friends on Australia Day evening in the al-fresco area of Beno’s restaurant in High Street, Berwick.
Police have condemned the attack and are now calling for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward.
Rebecca Cripps, 32, was this week still feeling the effects of the shooting after an X-ray revealed that the pellet had remained lodged in her chin.
A shocked Ms Cripps said she couldn’t believe something like this would happen in Berwick.
“I’m still in shock but more in dismay, you don’t expect those things to happen here,” she said.
Ms Cripps said at first she thought a stone had hit her but it wasn’t until she touched the wound that she realised how serious it was.
“I felt sudden pain after the impact and I felt my chin, it was bleeding everywhere.”
Patrons at Beno’s told police they heard a popping noise that sounded like an air rifle.
Police said a blue wagon was seen driving past Beno’s at the time of the incident.
Ms Cripps said security at Beno’s assisted her until two police officers and a detective attended the scene.
She went to Casey hospital where she was referred to a nearby medical clinic for a tetanus shot.
She said the following day felt like someone had punched her in the mouth.
“My jaw was swollen, I couldn’t chew or even smile, every time I did it hurt,” she said.
Police could not find the pellet at the scene which led Detective Senior Constable Peter Lockman to believe that it may have been inside Ms Cripps’ chin.
An x-ray this week confirmed the bad news.
Ms Cripps said she was unsure whether to have the pellet removed as doctors were concerned that the procedure may cause scarring.
But Ms Cripps said she just felt lucky the pellet did not hit her in the eye or another sensitive area.
Det Sen Const Lockman said improper use of all firearms, including slug guns was treated as a serious offence.
“They can cause serious injuries or kill you because it’s a projectile coming out of a firearm,” he said.
Any one with any information is urged to call Det Sen Const Lockman at Narre Warren police on 9705 3111.