The man, who police say handed himself in immediately after the bizarre shooting, will face charges of firing a gun in a public place and possession of an unauthorised firearm.

Lake Illawarra Duty Officer Acting Inspector Paul Brodie said the incident occurred just after 9pm, and was carried out in view of police and a member of the public.

“About 9.10pm a car has pulled up outside Lake Illawarra police station, in the front car park and the passenger of that vehicle has gotten out of the car,” he said.

“We believe he has produced a firearm and fired a shot into the air, he has then placed the firearm back into the vehicle and the vehicle and the driver has left the scene with the firearm.

“The male who discharged the firearm then walked into the police station where he was subsequently arrested.” 

No one was injured in the incident.

“There was a member of the public in the police foyer at the time, who witnessed the whole thing – it would have been quite scary for them,” Acting Inspector Brodie said.

​The car was located in Wollongong, he said, and, on Friday morning, the driver was at Wollongong Police Station assisting police.

Police were yet to located the firearm.