Three people were killed, and another man was seriously injured in a shooting incident on Thursday in the small town of Lake Cargelligo in Australia’s New South Wales state.
According to New South Wales Police, emergency services were called to an address on Walker Street near Yelkin Street at nearly 4.40 pm local time on Thursday, January 22, following reports of a shooting.
Officers attached to the Central West Police District attended the scene shortly after receiving the alert.
Police confirmed that three people, two women and one man, were found dead at the location.
A fourth person, a man, was taken to the hospital, where he remains in a serious but stable condition.
Authorities said the shooter or shooters were still at large, and a crime scene has been established as investigations into the circumstances surrounding the incident continue.
Police urged members of the public to avoid the area and advised residents to remain indoors for their safety.
Law enforcement officials also issued geo-targeted text messages to residents in and around Lake Cargelligo, warning them to stay inside while police conduct their investigation.
Lake Cargelligo is a rural town with a population of about 1,500 people.
The motive behind the shooting was yet not known.
According to the Associated Press, the shooting happened on Australia’s National Day of Mourning, observed as the country remembers the 15 people shot dead in Sydney during a Hanukkah celebration on December 14.
Authorities have previously said that the two alleged gunmen in the Sydney attack were inspired by the Islamic State, marking Australia’s worst mass shooting since 1996.
Police said more information on the Lake Cargelligo shooting would be released as it becomes available.
