NSW Police conducted a welfare check on Artemios Mintzas weeks before he allegedly opened fire on a busy street in Sydney, injuring 16 people. A close family member reported that she requested police visit his Croydon Park apartment three weeks prior due to concerns about his mental state. Police confirmed they visited the 60-year-old's residence in September but found him to be "fine."

On Sunday night, Mr. Mintzas is accused of shooting indiscriminately from his unit window, targeting pedestrians, police, and passing vehicles. He allegedly fired nearly 50 rounds from a high-caliber rifle, injuring one man in the neck and chest. Mr. Mintzas has been charged with 25 offenses, including shooting with intent to murder, and he appeared in court this week. Authorities are still investigating the motive behind the shooting.

A family member, who wished to remain anonymous, expressed shock at the incident, stating, "When he wasn't depressed, he was a good loving father, a good person. He would never think like that." The family noted that Mr. Mintzas had become increasingly unhappy in recent months, particularly after being evicted from his Belfield rental earlier this year when the owners decided to sell. His former real estate agency confirmed the eviction.

After moving to the Croydon Park unit in June, Mr. Mintzas struggled with the stairs due to health issues, often sleeping overnight in an armchair on the ground floor. His family member said, "I told him you need help. You need someone … I thought he was OK, [that] he listened to me. We tried our best to help him."

Following the welfare check, the family was informed that Mr. Mintzas was "alright." He had been divorced for over a decade but maintained good relationships with his former partner and children. His last conversation with family occurred the Wednesday before the shooting, after he finished a shift at Sydney Trains, where he worked as a customer service attendant.

Acting Superintendent Stephen Parry confirmed that officers from Burwood Police Station had visited Mr. Mintzas's home in September. "Officers went around there … they said he was fine," he said. He added that police receive welfare check requests daily from concerned friends and relatives.

NSW Police are investigating how Mr. Mintzas obtained a .30-caliber M1 Carbine rifle, as his firearms license expired in 1992. A search of his unit did not reveal any specific threats of self-harm, but there were documents with notes. Acting Superintendent Parry mentioned that Mr. Mintzas had no known mental health history. "Unfortunately, a lot of people do have different struggles at different times, and it is sometimes difficult to reach out for help," he said.

Mr. Mintzas is scheduled to appear in court again on December 3.