Council worker wanted over fatal triple shooting could be hard to find, NSW police say

By Bruce MacKenzie, Joanna Woodburn, Ethan Rix and Xanthe Gregory, ABC News Photo: ABC News / NSW Police Police believe a man wanted over the shooting deaths of three people in remote New South Wales (NSW) could be difficult to find because of his knowledge of the area. A man, 32, and a woman, 25, were found dead in a vehicle in Bokhara Street, Lake Cargelligo, 130km north of Griffith, when police responded to reports of gunfire about 4.20pm on Thursday (local time). Police sources have confirmed the 25-year-old woman was about seven months pregnant. Photo: ABC News Soon after, police were called to a second report of shots on Walker Street, where officers found another male and female with gunshot wounds. Fifty-year-old Nerida Quinn died and the man, 19, was taken to hospital in a serious but stable condition. The deceased 25-year-old was Nerida Quinn's niece, Sophie Quinn. Police sources have said Sophie Quinn was about seven months pregnant. A family member said of Sophie: "She loved her friends, loved her nephews, she loved being outdoors she loved her dogs. She loved fishing." Nerida Quinn was described by the family member as someone who was "selfless". "She was always there for everybody's kids … She loved her family." Specialist police officers have been flown in to support a large-scale search for the suspect, 37-year-old Julian Ingram, also known as Julian Pierpoint. The ABC has confirmed that the suspected gunman is a council gardener who works as a weeds officer. Assistant Commissioner of the Western Region Command, Andrew Holland, on Friday said the suspect was last seen leaving town. "Our last sighting was on a road out of Lake Congelligo, hence our concerns for making sure the public is safe at all times," he said. "We are concerned about the local villages. We have concern when he has gone to those villages before." Holland said Ingram's knowledge of the local area could make him difficult to find. "He'd have a good idea of the local area," he said. "It would be feasible he could obviously maintain an extended period in the local area without being detected." Photo: ABC Central West / Hamish Cole Ingram is described as 165cm-170cm tall, of medium build, with short dark hair and brown eyes. He was last seen driving a Ford Ranger utility with NSW registration DM-07-GZ, featuring council signage, a metal tray back, high-visibility markings on the sides, and an emergency-light bar on the roof. Lachlan Shire Mayor John Medcalf said Ingram had worked on remote properties in the Central West. "I think he would really know how to disappear, hide himself, use relatives, or whatever because once you get west of here, especially at this time of year, it's a very challenging experience to be out there," he said. "The suspect is a local. He was working with the council, but before that, he was working on properties to the west of here and the north. He knows the area very, very well." Shooter on bail Holland told ABC Western Plains that Ingram was known to police. "We believe that all the parties are known to each other, and we are treating it as a domestic violence-related incident at this time," he said. "[Ingram] is known to police, and he has come under our attention for apprehended domestic violence issues." According to court files, Julian Ingram is currently under an apprehended violence order (AVO) for several domestic violence-related offences. The 37-year-old was granted bail by NSW Police in November after he was charged with stalking and intimidation with intent to cause physical fear or harm, common assault, and property damage worth less than $2,000. Under his bail conditions, Ingram was required to report to Lake Cargelligo police station once daily. He was due to next face court on those charges early next month. Photo: ABC News Assistant Commissioner Holland said Ingram did not have a NSW firearms licence. "[But] he has access to firearms, which are unknown, and that will form part of the investigation as well," he said. Assistant Commissioner Holland said the dead were locals. A large-scale search is underway, with police helicopters circling the town through the night and tactical officers and Defence Force personnel flown in. The 19-year-old seriously injured in the shooting has been identified as Kaleb MacQueen. His family have given the ABC permission to use his name and image. Photo: ABC News / Supplied 'Stay away from windows' A local Lake Cargelligo woman sheltering in place as the drama unfolded, told the ABC that the children swimming at the local pool had witnessed the shootings. She said the man was firing from inside a vehicle while ramming into things. Holland said residents in the area should stay indoors. Photo: ABC News "We have a direction where he was seen to leave, but obviously, overnight, we haven't been able to locate him or the vehicle, and the search has been spread out across small villages in the local...

Council worker wanted over fatal triple shooting could be hard to find, NSW police say

Continue Reading on RNZ

How do you feel about this article?

📝 Article Information

Author

Original Publisher

Published Date

Disclaimer

Council worker wanted over fatal triple shooting could be hard to find, NSW police say

Continue Reading on RNZ

How do you feel about this article?

📝 Article Information

Author

Original Publisher

Published Date

Disclaimer

More from RNZ