Three Dead, One Seriously Injured in Lake Cargelligo Shooting; Manhunt Underway
Three individuals have died and a fourth sustained serious injuries following a shooting incident in Lake Cargelligo, New South Wales, on Thursday, January 22. Emergency services responded to reports of shots fired in the central-west NSW town, triggering a large-scale police manhunt for 37-year-old Julian Ingram, also known as Julian Pierpoint. Mr. Ingram was reportedly on bail for domestic violence charges at the time, prompting a critical incident investigation into police actions.
A large-scale police manhunt is underway for 37-year-old Julian Ingram, also known as Julian Pierpoint, who was reportedly on bail for domestic violence charges at the time of the incident.
Incident Details
At approximately 4:20 PM on Thursday, January 22, police responded to reports of shots fired in Bokhara Street, Lake Cargelligo. Officers discovered 25-year-old Sophie Quinn, who was seven months pregnant, and 32-year-old John Harris deceased inside a vehicle. Police are treating this initial incident as domestic violence-related, as Ms. Quinn had previously been in a relationship with Mr. Ingram.
Shortly after, police were called to a second shooting report on Walker Street. There, 50-year-old Nerida Quinn, Sophie Quinn's aunt, was found deceased. A 19-year-old man, Kaleb Macqueen, also sustained gunshot wounds to his head, hand, shoulder, and leg. Mr. Macqueen was transported to Canberra Hospital, where his condition is described as serious but stable. Multiple crime scenes were established across Lake Cargelligo following the shootings.
Suspect Identified & Manhunt Underway
Police have identified Julian Ingram, 37, also known as Julian Pierpoint, as the suspect in connection with the shootings. An arrest warrant for murder has been issued for Mr. Ingram. He is described as 165cm-170cm tall, of medium build, with short dark hair and brown eyes.
Mr. Ingram was last observed driving a white single-cab Ford Ranger utility, NSW registration DM-07-GZ. The vehicle features Lachlan Shire Council signage, a metal tray back, high-visibility markings, and an emergency-light bar on the roof. Police initially believed the vehicle was a dual cab but later clarified it as a single-cab based on CCTV and dashcam footage.
A large-scale manhunt is underway, involving approximately 100 NSW Police officers, specialist tactical units, PolAir, drone operators, riot squad, Tactical Operations Unit, and Defence Force personnel. The search has expanded to include remote bushland and extensive rural properties around Lake Cargelligo and surrounding areas.
Assistant Commissioner Andrew Holland stated that Mr. Ingram is known for his bushcraft skills and familiarity with the region, which complicates the search in challenging terrain and high temperatures reaching the mid-40s.
A possible sighting of Mr. Ingram was reported between January 24 and 25 at a property south of Mount Hope, approximately 70km north of Lake Cargelligo. Investigators received information overnight regarding a potential sighting at Mount Hope on Sunday morning, prompting tactical police units to search the area. Police are investigating the possibility that Mr. Ingram may be receiving assistance to evade arrest.
Suspect's Background and Bail Conditions
At the time of the alleged shootings, Mr. Ingram was on bail for domestic violence-related charges against Sophie Quinn, including stalking, intimidation, common assault, and property damage. These incidents reportedly occurred on November 26 and 27, 2025, in Lake Cargelligo. Mr. Ingram had pleaded not guilty to these offenses.
Bail was granted by an officer at Lake Cargelligo Police Station on November 30. Court documents indicate the officer noted potential safety concerns but concluded that a custodial sentence was unlikely, citing Mr. Ingram's "last incident of violence was in 2021" and "nil history of breaches of bail." Bail conditions required daily reporting to the Lake Cargelligo Police Station, which Mr. Ingram was seen doing on the day of the alleged shooting, just hours prior.
Since 2014, Mr. Ingram has been subject to six Apprehended Violence Orders (AVOs) involving five different individuals, including Sophie Quinn. He had a prior assault conviction from 2022. Police confirmed that Mr. Ingram does not possess an NSW firearms license, and an investigation into how he obtained weapons is underway.
Critical Incident Investigation Launched
NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Andrew Holland declared a critical incident investigation on January 29. This investigation, overseen by the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission, will review police actions leading up to and during the incident.
The review's scope includes the relationship between Sophie Quinn and Julian Ingram, Mr. Ingram's access to firearms, and his domestic violence history. It will assess if police actions complied with policy, procedure, and legislation. Assistant Commissioner Holland stated that a threat assessment was conducted when bail was granted, and police had not received information indicating an increased threat level since the original risk assessment.
The critical incident investigation will review police actions, Julian Ingram's access to firearms, and his domestic violence history to assess compliance with policy and legislation.
Acting Police Minister Paul Scully emphasized the importance of following police directions and expressed thoughts for the affected families and community.
Public Safety Advisory
Authorities issued geo-targeted SMS alerts to residents across Lake Cargelligo, advising them to remain indoors or avoid the area. All access points into Lake Cargelligo, including roads from Hillston, Condobolin, West Wyalong, and Goolgowi, were initially closed.
While the town is not under lockdown, residents have been advised to remain vigilant, report any suspicious activity to Triple Zero (000) or CrimeStoppers, and not to approach the suspect, as he is believed to be armed and dangerous. Police have assured the public that they are not aware of any threats from Mr. Ingram towards other members of the public beyond the immediate victims.
Community Impact
Lake Cargelligo is a small town in central New South Wales with an approximate population of 1,500 residents. The victims, Sophie and Nerida Quinn, and John Harris, are members of a known local Indigenous family.
The NSW Aboriginal Land Council expressed sadness regarding the events, acknowledging the significant loss to the local community. Nerida Quinn was a mother of four and grandmother of six. Police are collaborating with Indigenous community liaisons in the Murrumbidgee Aboriginal community as part of the search efforts.