CCTV Footage of Fugitive Released as NSW Police Vow Unrelenting Manhunt
Footage of fugitive Julian Ingram, captured just hours before he allegedly murdered three people in a domestic violence-related shooting spree, has been released by New South Wales police. Authorities have vowed they will not scale back their intensive search operation until the 37-year-old is apprehended.
Chilling CCTV Clip Shows Fugitive Before Alleged Killings
An almost one-minute CCTV clip, released on Thursday, shows Ingram sporting a red cap and blue and yellow work gear while casually vaping outside Lake Cargelligo police station on January 22. The fugitive, also known as Julian Pierpoint, was reporting for his mandatory daily bail check-in at the time. In accompanying images, police have highlighted several tattoos on his arm, including a distinctive demonic image.
The footage was disclosed after NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon pledged to find Ingram, who has been on the run for a week following the deadly alleged shooting spree. Ingram is accused of killing three people, including his pregnant former partner Sophie Quinn and her aunt Nerida Quinn, in the western NSW town of Lake Cargelligo, mere hours after his police station visit.
Police Commissioner Vows Significant Presence Until Capture
'I want to make sure that not only are you safe, but you feel safe,' Commissioner Lanyon stated. 'You will continue to see a significant policing presence until such time as we put Mr Ingram before the court.'
Specialist riot squads are being deployed to assist in the search, which has now entered its second week. Police confirm that all leads are being actively investigated. Assistant Commissioner Andrew Holland revealed there has only been one reported sighting of Ingram, although officers are investigating a lead involving a motorcyclist who failed to stop for police.
Challenges of the Outback Terrain and Community Warnings
Assistant Commissioner Holland noted that the white getaway ute Ingram had been driving could be hidden. 'He'd be mad if he was still using his original ute. But if he's got other vehicles involved, we want to make sure we are investigating any lead that we have,' he said.
The earlier tip-off, from Sunday morning, led investigators to focus on areas surrounding the remote outpost of Mount Hope, a former mining town approximately 90 kilometres northwest of Lake Cargelligo. Police have warned they will arrest and prosecute anyone helping the experienced council worker access food and water, amid a heatwave across the outback region.
The tricky terrain, with ample hiding spots between sheds and vast properties—some exceeding 160 square kilometres in size—is posing significant challenges for officers. 'All members of the community should exercise extreme caution,' Mr Holland urged. 'They need to be aware that there is a gunman on the loose in their area.'
Details of the Alleged Shooting Spree
Ingram allegedly fatally shot his pregnant former partner Sophie Quinn, 25, and her friend John Harris, 32, when bullets were fired into a dark hatchback on Lake Cargelligo's Bokhara Street around 4:20 pm. Soon after, her 50-year-old aunt, Nerida Quinn, was shot dead at a home on Walker Street, a two-minute drive away. Kaleb Macqueen, 19, was also shot at the home but survived with serious injuries.
Suspicion and tensions remain high as the search for the alleged triple killer grips the town of about 1,100 people and the surrounding region. Friends and family of the slain women have asked the public for donations as the manhunt continues. 'Nerida and Sophie will be missed by so many,' family friend Leisa-Ann Kilby said online. The fundraiser had topped $16,000 by Thursday afternoon.
Expert Analysis on the Search and Domestic Violence Context
According to one expert, the openness of the terrain, particularly compared to the alpine-country search for fellow fugitive Dezi Freeman in Victoria, should allow police to conduct a more thorough search for longer. However, 30-year police veteran and criminology academic Vincent Hurley told AAP that the outback heat and scarcity of water meant it was doubtful Ingram could survive on the run for longer than six weeks.
Commissioner Lanyon emphasised that domestic and family violence remained a scourge on the community, stating its eradication was a personal focus. 'A tragedy like this brings domestic and family violence into the picture even more,' he said. 'Last year alone we charged over 32,000 people with domestic and family violence assaults. That is a disgrace. It is simply unacceptable.'
Bail Conditions and Prior Offences Under Scrutiny
Daily Mail previously revealed that Ingram was on bail after being accused of stalking, intimidating, and assaulting Ms Quinn, and allegedly damaging her property. Part of his bail conditions required him to report to Lake Cargelligo Police Station every day, as seen in the recently released CCTV footage.
Records also show Ingram was a known domestic violence offender at the time, having pleaded guilty in 2021 to assaulting another woman in Griffith. When asked during a press conference on Friday why Ingram was granted bail, Assistant Commissioner Holland replied: 'A risk assessment would have been done at the time. At that time, he had not committed a violent offence in the last five years and, therefore, deemed fit. Where we can, we obviously grant people bail. We don't want to keep them in custody. With strict bail conditions and AVO in place, it's deemed suitable.'
A massive search operation, involving specialist riot squads and heavy armoured vehicles, continues across the challenging outback landscape as police remain determined to capture the alleged gunman.
