Adam Scott Murray, 26, of Berkeley, was refused bail when he appeared in Wollongong Local Court yesterday, charged with three offences including shooting with intent to murder.

He is accused of shooting Renae Sullivan, 21, through a sealed window next to the front door of her home in Fowlers Rd about 6.20pm on Wednesday night.

Her 27-year-old partner and four children were inside the home but weren’t hurt.

Ms Sullivan was airlifted to St George Hospital, where she was in a critical but stable condition last night.

Her mother, Karen Carlson, told the Nine Network the 21-year-old was a happy-go-lucky girl who had never hurt anybody.

‘‘She’s still got the bullet lodged in her brain. It’s not ever going to come out,’’ Ms Carlson said. ‘‘I’m feeling so helpless.’’

Murray was arrested in Oak Flats less than an hour after the shooting when highway patrol officers pulled over a vehicle in which he was a passenger.

Yesterday, Murray waved at a contingent of friends and family as he entered court dressed in a green prison tracksuit.

He sat quietly while Magistrate Michael Stoddart spoke with solicitors in the case.

Murray did not apply for bail and it was formally refused.

His father called out ‘‘we love you son’’ as he was led from the dock.

Police yesterday said they were yet to determine a motive for the crime.

‘‘He [Murray] is known to the victim - [as for] the exact relationship, we’re still making inquiries in relation to that,’’ Lake Illawarra Acting Superintendent Bryan Rugg said.

Mr Rugg confirmed Murray was also known to police, but denied the incident was linked to any similar crimes in the region.

Police are yet to locate the gun used to shoot Ms Sullivan.

A number of witness statements have been taken from neighbours, however police want anyone who saw suspicious activity in or around Fowlers Rd on Wednesday night to come forward.