Manhunt Intensifies for Alleged Triple Murderer in Remote NSW Community
Police have dramatically widened their search for a suspected triple murderer in remote New South Wales, revealing the alleged gunman reported to local officers as part of his bail conditions just hours before the fatal shootings occurred. The tragedy has left the small community of Lake Cargelligo reeling with grief and fear.
Suspect Armed and Dangerous Despite No Firearms Licence
Authorities suspect Lake Cargelligo local Julian Ingram, 37, is armed with at least one firearm, though they have confirmed he has never held a firearms licence. Assistant Commissioner Andrew Holland stated that Ingram is considered extremely dangerous and may be receiving assistance to avoid capture.
"I think everyone needs to be concerned for their safety at this point," Holland warned. "He's a man with a firearm who has obviously taken violent action in a country location. We can't tell what his actions are going to be in the future."
Chilling Timeline of Violence
The shootings occurred on Thursday afternoon in two separate locations within Lake Cargelligo. First, Sophie Quinn, 25, who was pregnant with a son, was shot in a car on Bokhara Street around 4.20pm. Another man in the vehicle, John Harris, was also killed in this attack.
Police were then called to Walker Street following reports of another shooting, where they discovered Nerida Quinn, 50, and Kaleb Macqueen, 19, shot in a driveway. Nerida Quinn, an aunt of Sophie, later died from her injuries, while Macqueen remains in a serious but stable condition in hospital.
Bail Conditions and Risk Assessment Under Scrutiny
Ingram was on bail for alleged domestic violence offences against Sophie Quinn at the time of the shootings. Court documents reveal Quinn had an apprehended domestic violence order (ADVO) taken out against Ingram in December, which was due for review in court on 3 February.
Police granted Ingram bail on 30 November for domestic violence-related charges, with conditions requiring him to report daily to Lake Cargelligo police station and stay at least 100 metres from Quinn, her home, and her workplace. He had pleaded not guilty to charges including stalking and harassment with intent to cause physical harm, common assault, and property damage.
Holland confirmed that Ingram complied with all bail conditions and reported to police at 8.12am on the morning of the shootings, just hours before the violence erupted. "When bail was made back in November, there was a risk assessment done at the time," Holland explained. "At that time the risk was deemed suitable, and the court agreed with the decisions made by police."
Community Impact and Search Operations
Lake Cargelligo, with a population between 1,300 and 1,500 residents, is no longer in lockdown, though police have urged extreme caution. The search has expanded to properties at Euabalong, approximately 30 kilometres north of Lake Cargelligo.
Holland described the profound impact on the tight-knit 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. The scene faced by emergency services officers would have been horrendous."
Victim Families Speak Out
Kaleb Macqueen's grandmother, Sandra Little, took to social media to express her anguish, stating she was "praying" for his recovery and for the families of the other victims.
Sophie Quinn's sister, Katy Quinn, voiced the family's distress, saying her Indigenous family could have "no peace" while Ingram remains at large. She emphasised that "none of the victims' families" felt safe, noting all were local community members.
Police Resources and Suspect Profile
Overnight, specialist personnel including tactical operations units, negotiators, and homicide investigators were flown into the area by PolAir and the defence force to assist with the manhunt.
Police revealed Ingram was last seen driving out of Lake Cargelligo in 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. Ingram worked for Lachlan Shire council as a gardener and weeds officer, giving him intimate knowledge of the local area and bushcraft skills that complicate the search operation.
"Mr Ingram has worked in the area for a long time," Holland noted. "He is known to a lot of people in the area, and he's well-known among the community."
Investigators are still working to determine where the firearm or firearms used in the incident were sourced from, though crime scene investigators have obtained some indication of the type of weapons involved.
