Four children and three adults found dead in apparent murder-suicide on a rural property in south-west of state

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This article is more than 1 year old

Seven people, including four children, have been found dead on a property in Western Australia after an apparent murder suicide.

The WA police commissioner, Chris Dawson, confirmed a “significant tragedy” had occurred on a rural property in Osmington, near the holiday town of Margaret River in the state’s south-west.

The death toll makes it Australia’s worst mass shooting since Port Arthur in 1996.

At a press briefing on Friday, Dawson said police had been called to the outskirts of a rural property at about 5.15am. They found seven people dead on the property, including four children. He did not release the age of any of the victims.

Two firearms were found on the property. Dawson confirmed victims had gunshot wounds.

“It appears that gunshot wounds are there but I don’t want to go further than that, as two firearms have been located at the scene,” Dawson said.

“It is still very early in this investigation but based on what we do know this is clearly a significant tragedy.

He said five bodies – the four children and one adult – were found inside a building while two other adults were found outside.

As word about the shooting spread through the tiny community on Friday, a neighbour Felicity Haynes described the victims – who the Guardian has not named because police are still contacting family members – as community-minded.

“They were just the most gorgeous people,” Haynes said.

“They were extremely active in the local community. Very interested in sustainable farming and permaculture. That sums them up.”

It’s understood that the family moved to Osmington from Margaret River a few years ago.



Police say that they don’t believe there are concerns about wider public safety following the suspected shooting.

Specialist units from Perth, including the homicide squad and forensic crime scene unit, have been sent to the scene. Two firearms have been located at the property.

Dawson said police were still trying to locate other family members and did not release the identities of any of the deceased.

Gian De Poloni (@GianDePoloni) Police have blocked Osmington Rd about 400m from the property @abcsouthwestwa @abcnews @abcperth pic.twitter.com/A4v5irSRJW

He called it a “horrific” and “devastating tragedy” which would have a “lasting impact”.

“This devastating tragedy will no doubt have a lasting impact on the families concerned, the whole community and in particular the local community in the South West,” he said.

“The loss of any life is tragic, but the loss of four children and three adults, this is a significant tragedy.”

Osmington - population 135 - is about a 20-minute drive east of the the town of Margaret River. It mostly consists of mostly rural farmland properties and vineyards.

Mark McGowan (@MarkMcGowanMP) The events in our South West are tragic and shocking. My thoughts are with the family and friends of the victims, and also with the first responders and investigators as they piece together this tragic set of circumstances.

The Margaret River shire president Pamela Townshend was in a meeting when she received a new alert about the shooting. She said she was still in shock.

“This is going to rock our whole community,” she said.

“It’s a place where everybody knows everybody. People are all very connected. Osmington is extremely small. It’s just neighbours on rural properties.

“It’s not only devastating for people who know the victims but there’s this feeling of fear generated around violence and gun violence.”

WA Premier Mark McGowan described the shooting as “tragic and shocking”.

“My thoughts are with the family and friends of the victims, and also with the first responders and investigators as they piece together this tragic set of circumstances,” he wrote on Twitter.

• In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is on 13 11 14 and the national family violence counselling service is on 1800 737 732. In the UK, Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123 and the domestic violence helpline is on 0808 2000 247. Other international helplines can be found at www.befrienders.org</s>Seven people were found dead in a suspected murder-suicide near Margaret River in Western Australia on Friday. Australian police confirmed the use of guns in what could be the country's worst mass shooting in 22 years.

The bodies of seven people, including 4 autistic children, were found near or at a farm property in Osmington near the South-western tip of Australia, confirmed Western Australia State Police Commissioner Chris Dawson. He also said firearms were recovered from the scene and there appeared to be gunshot wounds.

Police are still unclear whether there was more than one shooter involved in the incident. However, as of the moment, they are not looking for any suspects.

“They all resided in the same property. The bodies of two adults were found outside a building on the property and the rest were found inside. Police have no information to raise concerns about wider public safety. Police were led to the property by a phone call before dawn," Dawson told CBS news.

"Male person connected to the property had phoned police just after 5:00 a.m. (3 p.m. EDT), and officers arrived at the scene shortly afterwards," he added, reported ABC.net.

The property was owned by Cynda Miles and her husband Peter. Their daughter, Katrina Miles, home-schooled her four autistic children in the property. Her body was found alongside those of her three sons and one daughter. The other two bodies are yet to be identified.

Only a month ago, Katrina had written on her Facebook page that her "ex" did not stop stalking her, according to the Australian.

"This is a much-loved family, a big part of the Margaret River community. Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone that will be affected by this tragedy, including those first responders," State MP for Vasse Libby Mettam told ABC.net.

"This devastating tragedy will no doubt have a lasting impact on the families concerned, the whole community and in particular, the local communities in our South West,” Dawson said.

Detectives from the Homicide Squad and Forensic Crime Scene Unit reached the scene as part of the investigation and the area has been blocked off.

This could be the worst mass shooting attack in Australia since 1996 when a lone gunman killed 35 in Tasmania. The incident prompted the nation to introduce stringent gun controls. The law was widely accepted and also praised by former U.S. President Barack Obama.

"We have been lucky that all forms of gun-related deaths have reduced dramatically since we took that step of having less guns," Greensmith, a PhD scholar in mass shootings at Edith Cowan University, told ABC.net.

The commissioner has urged anyone with any information about the horrific incident to contact the police immediately.</s>Seven people have been found dead at a rural property near Margaret River in Western Australia (WA), police say.

The bodies of four children and three adults were discovered in the town of Osmington, 280km (170 miles) south of Perth, on Friday.

Authorities would not say how the victims died, but confirmed that two firearms were found at the scene.

There was no ongoing threat to public safety, police said. They would not confirm reports of a murder-suicide.

“The bodies of two adults were located outside [and] five bodies were located inside a building on the rural property,” said WA Police Commissioner Chris Dawson.

“It appears that gunshot wounds are there, but I don’t want to go further than that.”

If confirmed to be a mass shooting, it would be Australia’s worst since a massacre in Tasmania claimed the lives of 35 people in 1996.</s>FOUR CHILDREN AND three adults were found dead today at a rural property near the Margaret River wine region in western Australia, in an apparent murder-suicide with two weapons found nearby.

Police said they responded to an early-morning phone call and arrived to find a “horrific incident” in the small town of Osmington near the world-renowned wine-growing area, south of Perth.

Five bodies were found inside a house and two outside. Homicide detectives were investigating but police were not looking for a suspect — suggesting a murder-suicide.

“I can only say at this point in time, we have no information to raise concern about wider public safety issues,” Western Australia police commissioner Chris Dawson said.

“We’re still yet to make contact with other members of the family so at this point in time, all I’ll confirm is that there are four children and three adults that have all been located deceased.”

The ages of the children were not released.

Dawson said there appeared to be gunshot wounds, “but I don’t want to go further than that as two firearms have been located at the scene”.

Mass shootings are not common in Australia, which has strict gun laws. All weapons must be registered, although many arrive illegally from overseas through organised syndicates.

If confirmed as a mass shooting, the incident would be the worst in Australia since a 1996 massacre that left 35 people dead at Port Arthur in Tasmania.

It was believed those who died lived at the property, about 10 minutes drive from Margaret River, a popular tourist destination renowned for its wine, surf and natural beauty.

Dawson refused to be drawn on who the person was that alerted police, their relationship to the victims or whether they heard gunshots.

“The loss of any life is tragic but four children and three adults, this is a significant tragedy,” he said, adding that police and other specialists would be at the scene for several days at least.

“This will be a very large scale and detailed investigation.”</s>Seven people including four children were found dead with gunshot wounds Friday at a rural property in southwest Australia in what could be the country's worst mass shooting in 22 years, police said.

Police would not comment on the possibility of murder-suicide, but they are not looking for a suspect.

After being alerted by a phone call before dawn, police found the bodies and two guns at the property in Osmington, a village of fewer than 700 people near the tourist town of Margaret River, Western Australia state Police Commissioner Chris Dawson said. Police won't say who made the call.

The bodies of two adults were found outside a building and the rest were found inside. They all resided at the property, he said.

According to local media, three generations of the same farming family were involved in the incident and two of the adults were the grandparents of the family.

Police have no information to raise concerns about wider public safety, suggesting a shooter is not at large.

"Police are currently responding to what I can only describe as a horrific incident," Dawson told reporters.

"This devastating tragedy will no doubt have a lasting impact on the families concerned, the whole community and, in particular, the local communities in our southwest," he added.

Police were attempting to make contact with victims' relatives, Dawson said. He declined to release the names or ages of the dead.

Libby Mettam, a local parliamentarian, said the deaths had sent "significant shockwaves" through the town and the community was hurting.

"This is a much-loved family, a big part of the Margaret River community," Mettam told reporters.

Felicity Haynes, a former local councilor, who lives next to the property where the incident took place, said the family involved had moved in just three years earlier and were "caring neighbors."

"They were a very socially aware family, doing their best to create a safe community, and that is why it is so shocking to think that could be destroyed so quickly," she told broadcaster ABC.

Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan described it as "tragic and shocking."

Philip Alpers, a Sydney University gun policy analyst, said the tragedy appeared to be the worst mass shooting in Australia since a lone gunman killed 35 in Tasmania State in 1996, prompting the nation to introduce tough gun controls, including penalties of up to 14 years in jail for unregistered firearms.

Australia's gun laws are widely acclaimed as a success, with supporters including former President Barack Obama saying Australia has not had a single mass shooting since they were implemented.

The generally accepted definition of a mass shooting — four deaths excluding the shooter in a single event — has been met only once in Australia since then. In 2014, a farmer shot his wife and three children before killing himself.

Police have revealed few details about the recent killings, and it is not clear whether there was more than one shooter.

Farmers are allowed to own guns under Australian law because they have a legitimate need to use them to kill feral pests and predators or sick or injured livestock. But automatic and semi-automatic rifles and shotguns are banned from public ownership.

Located 270 kilometers south of Perth, Osmington is a collection of a few streets, farms, horse studs, vacation accommodation and vineyards supplying the premium winemaking district known as Margaret River. The village is inhabited by some 135 people.

Samantha Lee, chair of the Gun Control Australia lobby group, said rural areas were over-represented in Australian gun deaths, including suicides.

"Regional and rural areas are particularly vulnerable to these sorts of tragedies, because of the combination of isolation, sometimes mental or financial hardship and easy access to firearms," Less said in a statement.

"Although the details of this tragedy are yet to come to light, Australia has a tragic history of higher rate of gun deaths in rural areas," she added.</s>Seven people, including four children, have been found dead on a property in Western Australia after an apparent murder suicide.

The WA police commissioner, Chris Dawson, confirmed a “significant tragedy” had occurred on a rural property in Osmington, near the holiday town of Margaret River in the state’s south-west.

At a press briefing on Friday, Dawson said police had been called to the outskirts of a rural property at about 5.15am. They found seven people dead on the property, including four children. He did not release the age of any of the victims.

Two firearms were found on the property. Dawson confirmed that at least some of the victims had gunshot wounds.

“It appears that gunshot wounds are there but I don’t want to go further than that, as two firearms have been located at the scene,” Dawson said.

“It is still very early in this investigation but based on what we do know this is clearly a significant tragedy.

He said five bodies – the four children and one adult – were found inside a building while two other adults were found outside.

Police say that they don’t believe there are concerns about wider public safety following the suspected shooting.

Specialist units from Perth, including the homicide squad and forensic crime scene unit, have been sent to the scene. Two firearms have been located at the property.

Dawson said police were still trying to locate other family members and did not release the identities of any of the deceased.

He called it a “horrific” and “devastating tragedy” which would have a “lasting impact”.

“This devastating tragedy will no doubt have a lasting impact on the families concerned, the whole community and in particular the local community in the South West,” he said.

“The loss of any life is tragic, but the loss of four children and three adults, this is a significant tragedy.”

Osmington - population 135 - is about a 20-minute drive east of the the town of Margaret River. It mostly consists of mostly rural farmland properties and vineyards.
• In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is on 13 11 14. In the UK Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255. Other international suicide helplines can be found at www.befrienders.org</s>Police have been searching a property near Margaret River, in Western Australia, after seven people were found dead there.

The bodies of four children and three adults were discovered at the rural property.

Authorities would not say how the victims died, but confirmed that two firearms were found at the scene.</s>Seven people – including four children - have been found dead at a property near Margaret River, WA Police have confirmed.

Four children and three adults were found dead on the property in Osmington, near the Margaret River townsite.

Police are not looking for anyone else in regards to the tragedy, suggesting a murder suicide. But WA Police commissioner Chris Dawson this morning told a press conference he could not confirm that.

A mass investigation has been launched, involving homicide investigators and forensic investigators.

They will be there for days, Commissioner Dawson said.

Two firearms were also found at the property, and gunshot wounds were present on some of the bodies, the police said.

Mr Dawson said police received a call alerting them to the “horrific tragedy” from a male person believed to be connected to the property at about 5.15am.

“This is a tragedy – I don’t think any other words can describe how tragic this is,” Commissioner Dawson said.

He said the dead appear to be residents of the property, but next of kin were still being communicated with and so no more details were immediately provided.

Five of the dead were found inside, according to the police, and two adults found outside the property.

“This devastating tragedy will no doubt have a lasting impact on the families concerned, the whole community and in particular the local community in the South West,” he said.

“The loss of any life is tragic, but the loss of four children and three adults, this is a significant tragedy.”

Osmington is a 10-minute drive east of the Margaret River township. It is mostly rural, consisting of vineyards and farmland properties.

Police have closed off Osmington Road as they continue their investigation.

“Police are expected to be at the property for several days at least, this will be a very large-scale, and detailed investigation,” Mr Dawson said.

“Importantly, from the information I have been briefed on we have no present information to say that there is any public safety concerns at this point in time.

“Police in Western Australia have had to deal with matters of this scale before, I am very confident that our officers and indeed those from other departments that ... with such matters we call on for such matters will be able to deal with it.”</s>Seven people have been found dead with gunshot wounds close to a tourist town in Australia.

Police discovered the bodies - four of which are children - at a property near Margaret River.

Detectives have described the incident as a "horrific tragedy".

Western Australia Police Commissioner Chris Dawson said police were called to the property at 5.15am on Friday.

"The bodies of two adults were located outside, five bodies were located inside a building on the rural property.

"Two firearms have been located at the scene".

Commissioner Dawson confirmed some of the bodies had gunshot wounds.

He said the "male person" who had called the police had some connection to the property.</s>A mother and her four children are among the victims in a mass shooting that left seven people dead on a property in rural Western Australia, an apparent murder-suicide.

It is understood police found the bodies of Katrina Miles and her children, aged eight to 13, after receiving a phone call from a "male person" about 5am local time on Friday. Ms Miles was living at the property with her parents, Peter and Cynda Miles. Police are yet to formally identify any of the victims.

Officers found two adults dead outside a building on the property in Osmington, south of Perth and 20 kilometres north-east of the town of Margaret River.

The four children and another adult were found dead inside. The bodies had bullet wounds and police discovered two firearms at the scene.
Three adults and four children are found shot dead at a property in Margaret River, Western Australia. Police suspect murder-suicide.