Seven members from the one family — including four children — have been found dead on a remote property in Western Australia after an apparent murder suicide.
At a press briefing on Friday, WA police commissioner Chris Dawson said police had been called to the property in Osmington, near Margaret River at about 5.15am. Upon arrival, they found seven people dead on the property.
He 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 the bodies of two adults were found outside, while five more – the four children and one adult –were discovered inside a building on the rural property.
According to The Daily Telegraph, those among the dead include Katrina Miles, and her four children — all believed to have had autism — aged from eight to 13 years old. They have been named as Take, 13, Rylan, 11, Arye, 10, and Kadyn, eight.
The local community are now coming to terms with the tragic loss of life.
“They were just the most gorgeous people,” Felicity Haynes told The Guardian of her neighbours.
“They were extremely active in the local community. Very interested in sustainable farming and permaculture. That sums them up.”
Meanwhile, 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.
The bodies were found just before dawn on Friday morning at a property in Osmington, WA. (Image via 7 News).
The Australian has since reported that investigations are turning towards Peter Miles — the grandfather of the children — as detectives try to establish whether the pensioner killed three generations of his family before taking his own life.
If you or anyone you know is suffering, please contact Lifeline (lifeline.org.au) on 1311 14 or visit Headspace at (headspace.org.au). Visit Beyond Blue at (beyondblue.org.au) or call 1300 22 4636. You can also contact the Kids Help Line on 1800 55 1800.
Anyone with information regarding the deaths has been urged to call Crime Stoppers.
