CONTENT WARNING: This article discusses violence against women and suicide.
More details have emerged after a man shot and killed two women in Western Australia on Friday before also killing himself. The two female victims have now been identified as 59-year-old Jennifer Petelczyc and her 18-year-old daughter Gretl Petelczyc.
The incident is believed to have occurred after the gunman, 63-year-old Mark Bombara, stormed the Petelczyc household.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Bombara believed his former partner was seeking refuge there after the breakdown of the pair’s marriage. The partner was a family friend of Jennifer Petelczyc.
The ABC also understands that the family friend had told Jennifer and Gretl to hide, anticipating Bombara’s appearance at their home.
Soon after Bombara arrived at the property, he realised his former partner was not present. He then shot Jennifer, who was declared dead at the scene, before shooting her daughter Gretl who was rushed to Royal Perth Hospital where she later died.
Detective Inspector David Gorton has since said the man had a firearm license in the state of Western Australia. Bombara was known to police but did not have a history of violence.
“Obviously they [the victim’s family] are very distressed by these circumstances and WA Police will make the appropriate referrals to them for counselling,” Gorton said.
“Any death is tragic however when you get a multiple murder, it has that greater impact upon the family, the friends, the first responders and certainly the community at large.”
Gorton also stated that since the victims were not known to the attacker, the matter was not being treated as a domestic violence case.
Police were initially called to house in the suburban neighbourhood of Floreat in Perth’s west around 4:30pm on Friday.
“The male in his 60s is known to the female in her 50s through a mutual contact,” WA police said in a statement published just after the incident.
A neighbour, who spoke to the ABC following the incident, described their shock at seeing police vehicles in his area.
“I drove down that street and the police were more or less outside my house,” he began.
“I was thinking, ‘wow, this is my house’. It’s a bit shocking.
“We know our neighbours. They are good people.”
WA Police have since confirmed there is no ongoing threat to public safety.
Investigations into the incident are ongoing per Guardian Australia. More information is expected to be made public on Saturday.
Earlier in May, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the Federal Government would commit $925 million over the next five years to help Australians flee violence.
Alongside the announcement also comes a slew of initiatives that seek to put an end to violence against women.
The move is part of an urgent response to the rising femicide epidemic in Australia and numerous rallies calling for action against domestic and family violence.
Image credit via the Sydney Morning Herald.
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