A prolonged armed siege in suburban Adelaide resulted in three deaths and two police injuries, ending in arrest by South Australia Police's specialist unit.
Key Facts
- Date
- 29 April 2011
- Duration
- Approximately 8 hours (2:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.)
- People shot by perpetrator
- 4 neighbours (3 killed, 1 severely wounded)
- Police officers wounded
- 2
- Perpetrator
- Donato Anthony Corbo, aged 39
- Arresting unit
- Special Tasks and Rescue, South Australia Police
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
In the early hours of 29 April 2011, Donato Anthony Corbo, a 39-year-old resident of Hectorville, entered his neighbours' property armed with a firearm. His specific motive was not detailed in available sources, but his actions initiated a violent confrontation that immediately drew a police response.
Corbo shot four people at the neighbouring property, killing three and severely wounding one. He then barricaded himself, leading to an eight-hour armed stand-off with South Australia Police during which he shot and wounded two police officers. The siege lasted from approximately 2:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. in the suburb of Hectorville, east of Adelaide.
The stand-off ended when members of the Special Tasks and Rescue unit of South Australia Police apprehended Corbo, bringing the siege to a close. The incident drew significant public attention to suburban gun violence and police tactical responses in South Australia.