Pregnant woman among four shot in country town
Police have flooded a small country town to hunt for a gunman after a man and two women were shot dead, and another was injured.
The horror unfolded in Lake Cargelligo, a community of 1200 residents in the NSW central-west, on Thursday afternoon, when a man and woman were shot and killed while in a car.
Shortly afterwards, two other people were shot in a driveway, with the woman suffering fatal injuries and the man taken to hospital in a critical condition.
NSW Police are still hunting for the alleged shooter, who they have identified as 37-year-old Julian Ingram, also known as Pierpoint, wanted on an outstanding warrant for murder.
Family named the first two victims as Ingram’s former partner Sophie Quinn, 24, and her friend, John Harris, 32. The other woman killed was Sophie’s aunt, Nerida Quinn.
Sophie’s mother, Cathy, told the Sydney Morning Herald her daughter had been expecting a baby in March, describing her as gentle, loving and “just a fun girl to be around”.
You might like
On Friday morning, Police launched a public appeal for help to find Ingram, who is described as of Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander appearance, about 165cm-170 centimetres tall, medium build with short dark hair and brown eyes.
He was last seen driving a council vehicle — a Ford Ranger utility with NSW registration DM-07-GZ, a metal tray back, high visibility markings on the side and an emergency light bar on the roof.
Anyone who sees him is urged not to approach him and to contact triple zero immediately.
Lake Cargelligo was locked down after the shooting, and residents told to stay inside.
“At this stage police have identified an offender, who is still at large,” Assistant Commissioner Andrew Holland said.
“There are concerns that this offender may be armed with a firearm … the offender is currently on the move, and we are looking to try to locate this offender. We have a large search in the area currently underway.”
In a social media post, Roy Butler, the independent member for Barwon, said it was a “horrific situation”.
“This is a close-knit community, and these tragic events will be felt by everyone here, as well as across NSW and Australia,” he said.
“We do not yet have the full details, but it is devastating to confirm that three people have died, including a pregnant woman. One person has been injured and is, thankfully, expected to survive.”
Anyone with information in relation to the gunman’s whereabouts is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
–with AAP
