Police seek man wanted in fatal shootings of 3 in small Australian town

Police in a small Australian town have launched a manhunt for a suspect accused of killing three people in what authorities describe as a domestic violence-related shooting, urging residents to remain indoors for their safety.

Julian Ingram, 37, is being sought in connection with Thursday’s deadly shooting in Lake Cargelligo, a remote town of 1,100 residents in New South Wales. Among the victims was 25-year-old Sophie Quinn, who was pregnant at the time of her death and had previously been granted a restraining order against Ingram in December. The other victims were identified as Quinn’s friend John Harris, 32, and her aunt, Nerida Quinn, 50. A fourth victim, a 19-year-old man whose name has not been released, was hospitalized and remains in serious but stable condition.

New South Wales Police Assistant Commissioner Andrew Holland revealed that Ingram was out on bail for domestic violence-related charges at the time of the shooting. Despite his criminal history, authorities indicated that Ingram had fully complied with all conditions of his bail. “In the time that he has been on bail, he has complied with every condition,” Holland told reporters at a press conference in Lake Cargelligo.

More than 100 police officers and army personnel have been deployed to locate Ingram, who is also known as Julian Pierpoint. The massive search operation has transformed Lake Cargelligo into a ghost town, with deserted streets, drawn curtains, and shuttered businesses as residents heed police warnings to stay inside and report any suspicious activity.

Investigators are working to determine how Ingram obtained the firearm used in the attack, as he did not possess a valid state firearms license. Australia has some of the world’s strictest gun laws, which were strengthened following the 1996 Port Arthur massacre that left 35 people dead.

The Lake Cargelligo tragedy occurred on Australia’s National Day of Mourning, which commemorates the 15 victims of the Bondi Beach shooting in December 2023. That attack, in which authorities say the gunmen were inspired by the Islamic State group, was Australia’s worst mass shooting since the Port Arthur incident nearly three decades ago.

In response to the Bondi Beach shooting, the Australian Parliament passed new gun restrictions earlier this week, highlighting the nation’s ongoing efforts to prevent gun violence. These measures include tighter regulations on firearm ownership and increased penalties for weapons offenses.

Domestic violence remains a serious concern in Australia, with the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare reporting that on average, one woman is killed by a current or former partner every nine days. The Lake Cargelligo shooting has reignited discussions about the effectiveness of restraining orders and bail conditions in protecting victims of domestic abuse.

Local support services have been mobilized to assist community members affected by the tragedy, with counseling and crisis intervention teams available to residents of the close-knit town. Schools in the area have implemented additional security measures while the suspect remains at large.

Police have established roadblocks around Lake Cargelligo and are conducting thorough searches of the surrounding rural areas, which include dense bushland where a suspect could potentially hide. Authorities have asked residents with security cameras to review footage that might assist in locating Ingram.

The investigation continues as police work to piece together the events leading up to the shooting and determine if additional measures could have prevented the tragedy.