A Queensland coroner has determined that the three individuals responsible for the deadly 2022 Wieambilla shootings were not terrorists but were instead motivated by shared persecutory delusions that led to the ambush and killing of two police officers and a neighbour.
The Coroner's Findings
State Coroner Terry Ryan delivered the findings, stating that the weapons carried by the responding officers were no match for the rifles used by Gareth, Stacey, and Nathaniel Train. The trio had positioned themselves in ambush locations at their remote property, situated approximately 270 kilometres west of Brisbane.
The inquest heard that the Trains' actions on that day in 2022 were a direct result of their distorted, shared beliefs. Coroner Ryan's report emphasised that their ideology was not classified as terrorism, but stemmed from severe mental health issues.
Family Reaction and Recommendations
The mother of one of the slain officers expressed that the victims' families were initially disappointed by the coroner's subsequent recommendations. A key proposal put forward is for the state to consider mandatory mental health assessments for individuals applying for or renewing weapons licences.
This recommendation aims to prevent future tragedies by introducing a more robust screening process for firearm ownership, directly addressing the circumstances that contributed to the Wieambilla incident.
