Three people are dead and a town in the NSW central west is in lockdown after a fatal shooting that has prompted a large scale police operation and encouraged residents to remain inside their homes.
NSW Police stated that officers were called to the scene after reports of shots being fired were made on Monday morning.
Emergency services later confirmed that three people lost their lives at the location where the shooting occurred while the suspect was believed to have fled the scene as a manhunt for the suspect lasted for hours across the area.
One victim was taken to the hospital with injuries that were not life threatening.
Lockdown operations were carried out shortly after the initial response whereby schools, childcare centers and businesses were closed in the region.
People were advised to stay inside their homes while the police inspected neighboring properties. They also inspected rural areas in search of the suspects.
Meanwhile, roadblocks were put in place along major routes entering and exiting the town. Additional police officers were deployed from neighboring police commands.
The senior police described it as a targeted crime. However, it was emphasized that it was too soon to know details regarding it.
The NSW detectives from the homicide squad had been dispatched to assist with investigations in central west.
In addition, a crime scene was declared as investigations went on. The victims were not named as well as their attacker to enable them to be informed.
However, a number of individuals from the tight knit community have spoken up regarding a sudden and heavy police presence, as a result of the shooting.
Community leaders have asserted that support services are being put into place for individuals as well as first responders once the crisis has been addressed.
Emergency protocols were put into place at the local hospital to deal with the patient as well as staff members dealing with the crisis.
NSW police also urged people to come forward if they had any information such as CCTV and dashcam footage regarding the incidents in the specific areas.
There were also warnings regarding the suspect, stating that police believed the suspect to be armed and dangerous and people were advised not to approach anyone who matched the police description.
The incident rate of gun crime in regional NSW is low with a highly regulated approach to gun owners in this area.
New South Wales indeed boasts some of the toughest gun laws in the nation introduced in 1996 after the Port Arthur tragedy.
The police did not reveal what kind of weapon had been employed and how this had been done citing this as part of their investigations.
With the lockdown extending into the afternoon authorities gradually began to ease restrictions outside the area of concern while maintaining a strong presence near the primary search area.
Police said the town will continue under alert status until the fugitive is located and there is no ongoing risk to the general public.
Further information on the matter is expected to be released by the police when it is confirmed.
