Three dead in NSW Central West after gunman opens fire

Three people have been shot dead after a gunman opened fire in a NSW country town in a suspected domestic violence attack.

The gunman, who remains at large, shot and killed a woman, believed to be his former partner, and a man in a car in Lake Cargelligo in the NSW Central West on Thursday afternoon. The man then travelled to a home in the town, where he shot two other people known to him, killing a woman and seriously injuring a man with her.

That man was taken to hospital in a serious but stable condition.

NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Andy Holland said police had identified the gunman, and a large-scale search was under way in the area to locate him.

Holland said police had been received reports of shots being fired into a vehicle before receiving further reports of a second shooting. When police arrived at the vehicle, they found the man and woman dead.

“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.

“The scene faced by the emergency services officers at that time would have been horrendous.”

Police are working to locate the gunman and have dispatched resources from neighbouring policing districts to the town, including heavily armed tactical police. 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.

The gunman was believed to have fled the area in a vehicle, Holland said. He said the shootings were carried out in the half an hour from 4.10pm.

“Emergency services were called to Walker Street, near Yelkin Street, Lake Cargelligo, following reports of a shooting,” police said in an earlier statement.

“A crime scene has been established and an investigation into the circumstances of the incident has commenced.

“The public is urged to avoid the area and for local residents to stay inside.”

The local pub, the Commercial Hotel, shut about 6pm after residents were told to remain indoors.

The tactical operations unit were on their way, armed with high-powered weapons, and would “contain the threat”, sources 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,” he 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.

Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact Central West Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.