Grandparents, mum, four children shot dead in Australia (Photo)
Three generations of a single family were identified Saturday as the victims of Australia ’ s worst mass shooting in 22 years, a murder- suicide which left seven people dead .
They included Katrina Miles, 35, and her four children — three boys and a girl aged eight to 13 — who were found Friday in a shed on a rural property near the Margaret River wine region in Western Australia , police said .
Miles’ mother Cynda Miles, 58, was found in the main house at the property and her father Peter Miles, 61, was found outside , Police Commissioner Chris Dawson told reporters .
Three firearms licensed to Peter Miles were also found , he said .
Confirming suggestions of a murder- suicide , Dawson added : “ I wish to strongly emphasise that police do not believe any other person is involved in these crimes . Police are not searching for any other suspects. ”
Dawson said it was too early to confirm which member of the family was the shooter , saying more forensic work was needed.
He would only say police were alerted to the shootings by a phone call from a “ male person” at the property , who was apparently the killer .
Mass shootings are uncommon in Australia and Friday’ s was the deadliest since a 1996 massacre that left 35 dead at Port Arthur in Tasmania.
After that attack , the government banned assault rifles , launched a mass firearm buyback program and imposed tight gun registration laws.
Police issued a statement from unnamed relatives of the Miles family saying : “ We are devastated by this shocking event . We are stunned and still trying to understand how this could happen .
“ We respectfully ask that the community refrain from speculating on the circumstances surrounding this tragic incident. ”
Felicity Haynes , who lives on a neighbouring property , told broadcaster ABC the family involved were “ caring neighbours” .
“ They were a very socially aware family , doing their best to create a safe community , and that is why it is so shocking , ” she said .
Facebook posts by Katrina and Cynda Miles, quoted by local media, referred to the children as all being autistic and homeschooled.
The shooting happened in the small town of Osmington , close to Margaret River , a popular tourist destination renowned for its wine , surf and natural beauty.
A neighbour told the West Australian newspaper she was woken by gunfire about 4:00 am Friday morning ( 2000 GMT Thursday) , but thought it was someone shooting kangaroos , which are numerous in the area.
“ It wasn ’ t until I saw the police that I thought , ‘ Hang on a minute’ , ” Meg Janes told the newspaper. “( The shots ) were separated out, there was quite a long gap between them . ”
AFP.