The incident occurred at 2:40pm when police believe around five shots were fired at the brick house from a passing vehicle.

It is the second targeted attack in Canberra using firearms in less than a month. On October 3, an unknown person fired multiple shotgun shells into a Holden Commodore parked outside a Coombs house.

The close range shots blew holes and shattered the car's side windows and damaged nearby parked cars.

In the Narrabundah incident, at least two of the drive-by shots hit a black Ford Focus hatchback parked on the front lawn of the house.

Police shut down part of Goyder Street opposite Boomanulla Oval as crime scene forensics officers attempted to determine where the other shots struck and recover the casings.

At home at the time of the incident were the occupants: two adults and one young child.

No-one was injured in the incident and late that afternoon a male was seen to leave the home carrying a young child, with a police escort.

Detective Inspector Matt Reynolds said the attack was not criminal gang-related but potentially targeted and they have a strong suspect they are now attempting to locate.

"We believe the offender in this matter has cause to have [a] grievance with the occupants," Inspector Reynolds said.

"We do have a suspect in mind but we won't be discussing that today."

When asked if it was a domestic situation Inspector Reynolds said it may have been related to a business transaction "but not necessarily a recognised business."

Inspector Reynolds said it was possible there were more than one offender involved, and the weapon used may have been a rifle.

"While I appreciate this incident certainly may cause alarm for people in this suburb, police take these matters very seriously and we have all our resources investigating this," he said.

Inspector Reynolds called on anyone who witnessed the crime, may have scene a vehicle leaving the scene around 2.40pm, or have any other information to contact ACT Policing or Crime Stoppers.