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Emergency services were called to two locations at Lake
Cargelligo, a town of around 1,500 people, after 4 p.m. Two
couples, a man and woman, had been shot in each location within
minutes, Police Assistant Commissioner Andy Holland said.
Both women and a man died. Another man was taken to hospital in
serious but stable condition, he said.
Police knew the identity of a suspect, but did not know his
relationship with the victims, who were all Lake Cargelligo
locals, Holland said. The suspect's name has not been released.
State police were working to locate the suspect and had sent
resources from neighboring districts to the town, including
heavily armed tactical police, Holland said. The town had been
cordoned off to prevent the suspect's escape.
Police used geo-targeted text messages to urge the public to
avoid the area and for local residents to stay inside. The
Commercial Hotel, a local pub, was closed by 6 p.m.
“The offender is believed to have fled in a vehicle,” Holland
told reporters. “The offender is mobile, hence … we're asking
people in those areas to remain inside their premises for their
own safety.”
Local resident Manisha, who did not want to give her family
name, told Sydney's The Daily Telegraph newspaper there were
police cars and ambulances “all over town.”
“The town is made of just two main streets. We can hear the
sounds” of sirens, she told the newspaper.
Local state parliament lawmaker Roy Butler, described the
shooting as “tragic news” for the town, which is a 600-kilometer
(370-mile) drive west of Sydney.
“It’s a terrible situation, and it’s still live, so we don’t
have much information. My thoughts are with the victims and
their families,” Butler told Australian Broadcasting Corp.
The shooting came on a National Day of Mourning as Australia
remembers the 15 people shot dead in Sydney at a Hannukah
celebration on Dec. 14.
Authorities say the two alleged Sydney gunmen were inspired by
the Islamic State group to carry out Australia's worst mass
shooting since 1996.
The Australian Parliament on Tuesday passed new gun restrictions
in response to the tragedy.
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