‘Use extreme caution’: manhunt widens for alleged triple murderer presumed armed in remote NSW
Police have widened the search for a gunman suspected of killing his pregnant former partner and two others in remote NSW, as police explore whether the Lake Cargelligo local may be receiving help to evade authorities.Julian Ingram, 37, was last seen driving out of Lake Cargelligo, in the NSW central west, on Thursday. Police suspect he is armed with at least one firearm, but confirmed he has never held a firearms licence.The assistant commissioner Andrew Holland said on Saturday morning that two properties at Euabalong were searched by police looking for Ingram the previous night.“I want to reiterate at this time that the town of Lake Cargelligo is not in lockdown,” Holland said.“People are free to move about the town, we ask they just use extreme caution.”View image in fullscreenNSW police assistant commissioner Andrew Holland said Julian Ingram knew the area incredibly well, and was versed in bushcraft, which had necessitated the force widening their search area. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/EPAView image in fullscreenThe main street was empty in Lake Cargelligo after the shooting. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/EPAIngram is on bail for alleged domestic violence offences against one of the shooting victims, Sophie Quinn.Quinn, 25, who was pregnant with a son, was shot in a car on Bokhara Street about 4.20pm on Thursday. Another man in the car, John Harris, was also shot and killed.Police were then called to Walker Street after reports of another shooting and found Nerida Quinn, 50, and Kaleb Macqueen, 19, shot in the driveway. Quinn was an aunt of Sophie, and later died. Macqueen is in a serious but stable condition.Asked whether other associates of Ingram’s former partner should fear for their safety, Holland said: “I think everyone needs to be concerned for their safety at this point, he’s a man with a firearm, he’s obviously taken a violent action in a country location.“One of the victims, his only link to the family was at the location.“This [alleged] offender, we can’t tell what his actions are going to do in the future, what he’s going to do next…people need to use extreme caution when they’re moving about and be mindful of the fact there is a person who is on the loose, in the area, and may have a firearm.”Neighbouring properties to the Bokhara Street address were being door knocked by police on Saturday morning.View image in fullscreenThe scene of one of the shootings in Lake Cargelligo. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAPLake CargelligoSeveral floral tributes had been left near a power pole outside the property where the shooting happened, and fragments of what appeared to be windscreen glass remained on the road.The daughter of an elderly couple who live next door said they heard gunshots on Thursday afternoon, but knew little else about the shooting.About a kilometre away, in Walker Street, a neighbour said he heard five shots before rushing next door to find the victims in the driveway.He was expecting to speak to police later on Saturday.Residents of the Walker Street property where the shooting occurred declined to comment.Holland said that Ingram regularly reported to police for bail, as was required, and did so again at 8.12am the morning of the shooting.He said Ingram complied with all bail conditions, and a threat assessment was carried out when bail was granted.“When bail was made back in November, there was a risk assessment done at the time, at that time the risk was deemed suitable, the matter was put before the court three days later, and obviously the court agreed with the decisions made by police as the bail was not changed.”He said police had not received any information since the shooting that indicated the threat posed by Ingram may have increased since that original risk assessment.View image in fullscreenPolice said overnight a number of specialist personnel had been flown in by PolAir and the defence force, including tactical operations unit, negotiators and homicide investigators. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/EPAView image in fullscreenOfficers have checked with known associates, saying t was possible Ingram was receiving help to “avoid police apprehension”. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAPIngram had been charged in relation to an offence on 12 November. Court documents show that Sophie Quinn had an apprehended domestic violence order (ADVO) taken out against him in December that was due to be reviewed in court on 3 February.Police granted Ingram bail on 30 November for domestic violence-related charges. As part of his bail conditions, he was required to report to the Lake Cargelligo police station daily and to abide by the ADVO.The conditions included that he not go within 100 metres of Quinn, her home or her workplace.Ingram had pleaded not guilty to one count of stalking and harassment with the intention to cause physical harm, one count of common assault, and one count of damage or destroying property.Holland confirmed police considered that Ingram knew the area incredibly well, and was versed in bushcraft, which had necessitated the force widening their search area.Officers checked with known associates, but Holland said it was possible Ingram was receiving help to “avoid police apprehension”.“Mr Ingram has worked in the area for a long time, he is known to a lot of people in the area, and he’s well-known among the community.”Holland said police were still investigating where the firearm or firearms used in the incident were sourced from, but crime scene investigators had been able to get some indication of the type of weapons used.Macqueen’s grandmother, Sandra Little, said on social media that she was “praying” for his recovery – and for the families of the other victims.Sophie Quinn’s sister, Katy Quinn, said her Indigenous family could have “no peace” while Ingram was at large. She said “none of the victims’ families” felt safe. All were locals.Police said overnight a number of specialist personnel had been flown in by PolAir and the defence force, including tactical operations unit, negotiators and homicide investigators.They described the car Ingram was reportedly in as a Ford Ranger utility vehicle with council signage, a metal tray back, high-visibility markings on the sides, and an emergency light bar on the roof.Holland said on Friday that Ingram was last sighted driving out of Lake Cargelligo in the council vehicle. He said the alleged gunman worked for the Lachlan Shire council.The ABC reported that Ingram was a council gardener working as a weeds officer. Lachlan Shire council was contacted for comment.Between 1,300 and 1,500 people live in Lake Cargelligo.Holland said on Friday the tragedy would “have a big effect on the community”.“Any death in a small country town is confronting but … a scene where people are shot by firearms is obviously going to make people very, very tense and very concerned,” he said.“The scene faced by the emergency services officers would have been horrendous.”
