A man who shot dead a mother and daughter in their Perth home as he searched for his ex-wife before turning the gun on himself was a registered gun owner, WA police said on Monday.
The shooter killed the women on Friday at their Floreat home where his ex-wife was believed to have been staying, in what WA Premier Roger Cook has called a “chilling and horrific” attack.
Multiple media outlets have named the victims as 59-year-old Jennifer Petelczyc, who was a friend of the gunman’s ex-wife, and her 18-year-old daughter Gretl.
The WA government is in the process of toughening its gun laws through a $64 million buyback scheme and legislative changes to restrict the number of firearms people can own.
However, the crime has prompted the government to consider even stricter gun laws and to concede more needs to be done to combat family violence in the state.
On Monday, WA police said the killer, named in media as Mark Bombara, 63, was the holder of a gun licence.
Police did not confirm a WA Today report that he owned a stash of 13 firearms.
The killer was known to police but did not have a history of violence, authorities have said.
Police are expected to formally brief Cook about the circumstances surrounding the murders.
He has described the shooting as “senseless” and said the victims were innocent people who had died helping a friend in need.
Cook urged the community to reflect on the deaths, which he said were part of a “society-wide issue” of gendered violence.
“We all need to stand as one to condemn family and domestic violence,” he told Perth radio station 6PR.
Police were called to the home in Perth’s affluent western suburbs about 4.30pm on Friday after reports of gunshots, arriving as the last shot was fired.
Officers took the younger victim to Royal Perth Hospital but she could not be saved.
If you or someone you know is impacted by family and domestic violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732, or visit . In an emergency, call 000.
, operated by No to Violence, can be contacted on 1300 766 491.
Source Agencies
