00:00Good afternoon. Western Region Police are following through on numerous lines of inquiry into the three murders that have taken place at Lake Angelico.
00:08At this stage we've cleared a number of premises in the local area and we have also identified a number of places which are being reviewed in relation to search patterns for the future.
00:20At this stage, unfortunately, we haven't been able to allocate our offender and we are still continuing the process.
00:26We are still calling on the members of the public to assist us in locating the offender and obviously his vehicle.
00:34Any information can be passed on through Triple O or through Crimestoppers or contacting your local police station.
00:39Happy to take any questions.
00:41Hang on, one at a time.
00:47It's definitely a domestic relationship. We are obviously investigating along that path.
00:52We know that the offender was out on bail at the time. Did police oppose that bail?
00:57The offender was on police bail initially. Three days later he went before the court and the court saw fit to continue the police bail.
01:03How did police oppose that?
01:05Police would not oppose court bail.
01:08He was facing domestic violence charges. Can you say anything about that offending?
01:12At this stage, he was on bail for domestic violence offences.
01:17Again, the bail initiated by police was in relation to bail conditions and obviously ADVOs.
01:24I will say that in the time that he has been on bail, he has complied with every condition and police have checked on him multiple times.
01:31Do you know how he was able to get a gun? He didn't have a gun licence?
01:34The man has never had a gun licence before. We are still using that as part of our investigation.
01:40We will check on that future about where he had access to the firearms.
01:44Do you have any indication of where he might be at closer proximity?
01:51Our last sightings were on a road out of Lake Cajalico, hence our concerns for obviously making sure that the public is safe at all times.
01:58Obviously, we will obviously investigate those interactions where he's gone.
02:03We are concerned about the local villages. He has had areas where he's gone to those locations before.
02:09Currently, we have Aboriginal community liaison officers working in the Murrin Bridge Aboriginal community to obviously see if they can get in some information for us.
02:16We will obviously investigate every avenue where we hear a sight of him or his vehicle.
02:22How many of you have a lot of weapons?
02:23One at a time.
02:24I know that his friends have said that it was known that he had weapons. Were police aware of that?
02:30Given he was on an ADO, did police have any knowledge that he did have weapons if he didn't have a licence?
02:35At this point, as I said before, the gentleman involved has never held a firearms licence.
02:40There is intelligence based that we will obviously use as part of the investigations whether he has access to firearms.
02:46And obviously, in this extreme example, he has gained access to firearms.
02:50How big is the search area or are you searching?
02:52The search area is fluid. Obviously, we get information, we move to that location.
02:57As I said before, we've cleared a number of premises at that location and those locations which are known for him to frequent.
03:04Obviously, as more information comes in, we will move our searches in that location.
03:08How many police are involved in the search?
03:11There's up to 100 police involved in the search.
03:13Officers from the tactical unit, the hire patrol search units and obviously detectives across the board and from state crime as well.
03:20Depeer, please believe we're still driving the council.
03:23I beg your pardon?
03:24How are the families doing?
03:25The families are obviously in this tragic situation, but obviously not doing well.
03:29We've put in place family liaison officers to deal with the families as best we can.
03:33And again, support from the local community is very, very important in these circumstances.
03:37We know that he's targeted upon a family.
03:39There's multiple family members who have been murdered here.
03:42There's family members who are now scared for themselves.
03:44Do you think that's warranted and do they have a right to be concerned here?
03:47Look, as I said before, there is police almost on every corner in Lake Ejellico at the moment.
03:52Again, our process will put us in this position to locate this offender as soon as possible.
03:57Do police believe he's still driving the council vehicle?
04:00At this stage, we are looking for information from members of the public about their council vehicle.
04:05We have other information which has been put forward in relation to possibly other vehicles involved.
04:10But again, that is yet to be confirmed.
04:12How long do you anticipate the lock?
04:14In November when he was arrested, why did police grant him bail?
04:18Risk assessment would have been done at the time.
04:20At that time, he probably had not committed a violent offence in the last five years and therefore deemed fit.
04:26Again, where we can, we obviously grant people bail.
04:29We don't want to keep them in custody.
04:31And obviously, with strict bail conditions and an AVO in place, it was deemed suitable.
04:34Do you think that's acceptable to the families, though, if they hear you say he accepted all of those?
04:40Conditions, and he met all of those conditions, is that an acceptable answer?
04:43As I said before, a risk assessment would have been done by the person in charge at the time.
04:48And more importantly, the matter went before court.
04:50Three days later, the court saw fit to remain in the bail conditions as were put in place by the police.
04:55Do you know if the council vehicle had GPS tracking?
04:59Beg your pardon?
04:59Do you know if the council vehicle has GPS tracking?
05:01The council vehicle does not have GPS tracking.
05:03How long do you anticipate the lockdown to be in place for Lake Gagellago?
05:06There is no lockdown in place at the moment.
05:08What we are requesting for people to do is obviously maintain them in their homes in the safe position if they can.
05:14They are free to move about the town wherever they like.
05:17But again, with exercise caution, if they're moving about the scene.
05:20And if something unusual or there is a concern, please obviously call AAA or the policing.
05:24We will assist you as soon as we can.
05:26Are you able to see whether the search is looking around the Rankin Springs area?
05:30At this point, I will not disclose what search areas are being looked at.
05:33Again, that is part of the investigation.
05:35Do you know what condition the man who was shot this in?
05:38Is he critical?
05:39The gentleman who has...
05:41The fourth gentleman involved is at Canberra Hospital.
05:43His condition is listed as serious, but so will detectives from Queanby and police have spoken to him.
05:48So obviously he is in a reasonable condition.
05:51How dangerous is the offender if he is seen?
05:55Should people be exercising caution?
05:57Most definitely.
05:58We do not want anyone approaching the offender if they are seen.
06:01Hence why we've asked for people to contact AAA or Crime Stoppers.
06:04Again, do not approach the offender at any time.
06:07We consider him to be armed and dangerous.
06:09Are you searching the Mallee area?
06:11Locals have said he spent a long time.
06:12Again, as I said before, we are not disclosing the areas.
06:14We are searching, obviously, for giving free warning what he was doing.
06:17Can you confirm whether the baby was the shooter's?
06:21Do you know?
06:22We are aware that one of the victims may have been pregnant.
06:25At this point, we can't confirm any more about the information.
06:28We will obviously know more after the postmortem.
06:30Does the suspected gunman have the capacity to stay out in isolated areas for a longer period of time?
06:35Do you know if he's got the resources to do that?
06:38The gunman himself obviously works for the local council.
06:41He has a good idea of the local area.
06:43It would be feasible that he could obviously maintain an extended period in the local area without being detected.
06:49Do you have any idea what type of weapon exactly he used yesterday?
06:53That is part of the investigation.
06:55We'd rather not disclose that at this time.
06:56Do you know if the weapon was stolen?
06:58Again, we don't know how the weapon came into the possession of the gunman.
07:02Again, that will form part of the investigation.
07:04You know he was known to police.
07:05Was that just due to previous domestic violence incidents?
07:09The offender has a long history with criminal matters.
07:15His last violent matter was obviously over five years ago.
07:19And as I said before, he has similar interests in relation to violent offences.
07:26But again, he has not breached any of these orders for the last five years.
07:29What kind of effect will this have on a community like this?
07:32A small community?
07:33It sounds like everyone knew everyone.
07:36Again, this is a tragedy in a small community.
07:39A death in a small community hits a town hard.
07:41Three deaths hits them very hard.
07:43It will take a long, long time for this community to get back.
07:45And again, we'll need the community and those around them to support them to get them back on their feet.
07:49So you've said this isn't a lockdown, but obviously we see all the businesses have closed.
07:54Were they asked to close by the offender?
07:56No one has been asked to close as I said before.
07:58We are doing it for people's safety.
08:00The recommendation is that people stay inside where possible.
08:03They are free to move about the town if they wish to obviously get essential goods or services.
08:07But again, for their own safety, we recommend that they stay inside while we locate this offender.
08:11Will the police be keeping its base here in Lake Cajaligal or moving to another community?
08:16The base will be here while we are searching for this offender,
08:19unless we get information that he moves to another location.
08:22You said he was last spotted travelling out of Lake Cajaligal.
08:25Do you know which direction?
08:27Yes, we're aware of that, but again, we'd rather not disclose where.
08:30Do you think, I don't know, police or council, will, you know, councils come in to help the community?
08:35We've spoken to some really upset, obviously, witnesses today,
08:39and I think, you know, there might need some help.
08:41Is that something that we can support them on?
08:43Yeah, obviously the Central West Police District will obviously speak to the local council.
08:46We'll obviously put in place some support services and welfare services once this investigation is complete.
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