Julian Ingram bailed on domestic violence charges before allegedly killing Sophie Quinn, John Harris, Nerida Quinn in NSW Central West

Warning: This story contains the names and images of Indigenous people who have died.

Lake Cargelligo: Police granted a man facing domestic violence charges bail weeks before he allegedly murdered three people, including his heavily pregnant former partner.

A large-scale manhunt is under way for Julian Ingram, who allegedly shot and killed Sophie Quinn, 24, and her friend, John Harris, 32, while they were driving a car at Lake Cargelligo in the NSW Central West on Thursday afternoon.

He is then alleged to have travelled to a home in the town, where he shot Sophie’s aunt, Nerida Quinn, 50, and seriously injured 19-year-old Kaleb Macqueen, who was shot in the driveway. Macqueen was taken to hospital in a serious but stable condition.

A warrant was issued for Ingram’s arrest on Friday.

This masthead can reveal police granted Ingram bail on November 30 after he allegedly assaulted Quinn around the time the pair had separated. Ingram was charged with stalking or intimidating intending to cause fear or physical harm and common assault. Ingram had pleaded not guilty to the charges and was due to face Lake Cargelligo Local Court on February 3. Under his bail conditions, Ingram was required to report to local police daily. Quinn’s family was not critical of the police effort to protect the 24-year-old.

On December 3, police took out an interim apprehended domestic violence order against Ingram on behalf of Quinn. Under the interim order, Ingram was prohibited from approaching or contacting Quinn or going within 100 metres of her home or workplace. The order was due to be reviewed in court on February 3.

Ingram, a local council employee, was also charged with driving a vehicle in a manner that menaces others, negligent driving and destroying or damaging less than $2000 worth of property.

Sophie Quinn’s mother, Cathy Quinn, told this masthead that her daughter was gentle, loving and caring and that she had “not a mean bone in her”. She loved fishing, pig hunting and her dogs, Cathy said.

“[She was] just a fun girl to be around,” she said.

She said the 24-year-old – her “black swan” – was due to give birth to a son in March.

This masthead has published Sophie and Nerida Quinn’s and names and photographs with the family’s permission.

Ingram, also known as Pierpoint, is described by police as being Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander appearance, about 165cm-170cm tall, of a medium build with short dark hair and brown eyes.

He was last seen driving a Ford Ranger utility with NSW registration DM-07-GZ with council signage, a metal tray back, high visibility markings on the side and an emergency light bar on the roof.

The public are warned not to approach him but to call Triple Zero if he is spotted as he may be armed and dangerous.

NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Andy Holland said on Friday Ingram does not have a firearms licence in the state.

“He has access to firearms, which are unknown, and that will form part of the investigation as well,” Holland told ABC News on Friday.

Ingram was known to police for previous domestic violence offences, Holland said.

Several evidence markers were laid out on Bokhara Street, beside spent shotgun shells on Friday morning.

Fragments of glass could be seen on the street near Sophie’s black Suzuki hatchback, with bullet holes in its windscreen.

Forensic investigators examined Sophie and Harris’ bodies.

Police have also set up a website appealing for footage of the area to be submitted as they search for Ingram.

Holland said on Thursday night a large-scale search was under way.

“Any death in a small country town is confronting, but a scene where you have people shot by firearms is obviously going to make people very, very tense and very concerned,” Holland said.

Police resources from neighbouring districts had been dispatched to the town. Defence Force helicopters flew in heavily armed tactical police, negotiators and homicide investigators overnight.

More than 100 police are in the area supporting the search on Friday, Holland said.

The gunman and the victims were local to the area, Holland said.

Holland urged Lake Cargelligo residents to stay indoors and away from windows and report any suspicious behaviour, including suspicious movement in their backyards or suspicious vehicles, to police.

“It’s a tragedy that’s taken place in a very small country town, and it will have a big effect on the community,” Holland said.

Independent MP and the member for Barwon, Roy Butler, said the situation was “horrific” for the “small and close” community.

“The tragic circumstances will affect everyone in town and across NSW and Australia. We don’t have much detail, but it seems in devastating news, three people are dead, one, sadly a pregnant woman,” Butler said.

“I am in close contact with police and other members of the community.”

Lake Cargelligo is a small town west of Forbes and north of Griffith. The town has a population of about 1400, according to the 2021 census.

Federal member for Parkes, Nationals MP Jamie Chaffey, said he was focused on getting those affected the support they needed.

“We’ll deal with this horrible event, as a community, and get the care that more people are going to need following this incident,” he said.

Chaffey voted against more stringent gun laws after the Bondi terror attack, arguing guns are “an essential part of business” for farmers and those in regional areas; however, he said it was too early to comment on legislation after Thursday’s shooting.

“After the police investigation, will know a lot more about how this incident happened … It’s a truly, truly tragic event that’s happened overnight and still ongoing.”