The emergency services were dispatched to Lake Cargelligo, a town located approximately 600 kilometers west of Sydney, in the late afternoon in regard to a reported shooting incident. Police confirmed two female and one male fatalities, and a fourth male had been taken into hospital in a serious but stable condition.
“A police operation is currently underway at Lake Cargelligo. The police urge people to avoid the area and for residents to keep inside if they live in the area. Routes to the towns are closed while the police are assessing and finding the persons involved,” the New South Wales Police tweeted.
A suspect was not identified, but the Sydney Morning Herald relayed from local sources that the shooting may be related to a domestic violence case. There is also a possibility, as relayed by the Sydney Morning Herald, that a shooter is on the loose with a long-barrel gun.
Lake Cargelligo is located in the area of Central West in New South Wales and has a population of 1,100 in the 2021 census. The unexpected lockdown took the small community by surprise, and the police asked them to remain in their homes until further notice.
This comes as gun violence has dominated the headlines in Australia recently. Just last month, a shootout by two gun-wielding attackers occurred during a public Hanukkah celebration held on Bondi Beach in Sydney, killing 15 people. This has been termed as the worst mass shooting that has occurred in decades.
However, to address the rising gun deaths in the country, the government has rolled out new gun-control policies, which include a countrywide gun-buy-back program.
The state of New South Wales, which has the largest number of registered guns in Australia, has also imposed tough rules, including a four-guns-per-person limit and the mandatory membership of gun clubs for all gun license holders.
“The investigation is on-going, and there will be more updates as information becomes available,” the police said.
