New South Wales: Three people were killed and a fourth seriously injured in a shooting incident at Lake Cargelligo town in rural New South Wales, Australia, prompting a major police manhunt and lockdown on Thursday afternoon, according to reports.
Emergency services were called to the town — around 600 km west of Sydney — at approximately 4:20 PM local time after reports of gunfire. Police recovered the bodies of two women and one man at separate locations, and a fourth man was taken to hospital in serious, but stable condition.
New South Wales police described the unfolding incident as a critical public safety emergency with the suspect still at large as of Thursday evening. Local residents have been urged to stay indoors and avoid the area while tactical units and additional resources join the search operation.
Investigators have established multiple crime scenes along Bokhara, Walker and Yelkin Streets from where gunshots were reported. Large parts of the town have been cordoned off as part of the operation. Police have not publicly released the suspect’s identity. Initial reports, however, suggest the attack may have domestic links, with local media citing possible connections between the shooter and victims.
The tight-knit community of Lake Cargelligo, which has a population of roughly 1,300, has been left in shock following the incident, reports said.
The shooting comes during a national period of mourning in Australia, following last year’s deadly Bondi Beach attack in Sydney, which claimed 15 lives and spurred debates on gun control and public safety.
