Grandmother's Harrowing Account of Lake Cargelligo Shooting Crossfire
The grandmother of a young man caught in the deadly crossfire of a horrific shooting in the New South Wales outback has shared the heartbreaking moment she discovered her grandson had been shot, just metres from her own front door.
In an exclusive interview at her Walker Street home in Lake Cargelligo, Sandra Little recounted the terrifying events that unfolded on Thursday when alleged gunman Julian Ingram, 37, embarked on a violent rampage through the remote town located approximately 600 kilometres west of Sydney.
Deadly Sequence of Events
The tragedy began on Bokhara Street where Ingram allegedly gunned down his ex-partner Sophie Quinn, 25, who was pregnant with a baby boy named Troy due in March, alongside her new boyfriend John Harris, 32, inside a black Suzuki hatchback.
Sophie had separated from Ingram last year and was in a relationship with Mr Harris at the time of her death. Following the initial shooting, Ingram then allegedly drove a local council vehicle to the Walker Street home of Sophie's aunt, Nerida Quinn, 50, where he shot her dead and seriously injured her 19-year-old neighbour, Kaleb MacQueen.
Grandson's Terrifying Ordeal
Kaleb MacQueen, who remains hospitalised in Canberra but is expected to survive, was working on a vehicle across the road with Ms Quinn's son when he became innocently caught in the crossfire. According to his grandmother Sandra Little, Kaleb ran for his life but was struck in the wrist by a bullet.
'He then rang me and said, 'Grandma, I've been shot!'' Ms Little revealed during the emotional interview conducted on Saturday. She described being inside her home across the street at the time with Kaleb's 16-year-old brother Riley, who was playing video games when the violence erupted.
Ms Little alleged that Ingram was armed with a shotgun during the attack, and that Kaleb had described seeing blue shell casings at the scene. When asked if she had a message for Ingram, she grimly responded, 'Nothing you'd be allowed to print.'
Community Living in Fear
Fears continue to grip the small outback community as Ingram remains at large, with police describing him as armed and extremely dangerous. 'I've been sleeping with all my windows closed,' admitted Ms Little, reflecting the anxiety permeating the town.
Kaleb's younger brother Riley revealed a disturbing connection to the alleged shooter, having completed work experience with Ingram through the local council. 'He was alright, but I think he was trying to put on an act,' Riley recalled. 'I'm just happy my brother is alive. He is lucky to be alive.'
Intensive Police Manhunt Underway
Approximately 100 police officers have been deployed in the search for Ingram, with tactical resources including a BearCat vehicle and AirPol helicopter scouring the surrounding regions. New South Wales Police Commissioner Andrew Holland confirmed that authorities are widening their search area and haven't ruled out the possibility that Ingram may be receiving assistance to remain on the run.
'That's one of the avenues of our investigation,' Commissioner Holland told reporters. 'As we said before, Mr Ingram has worked in the area for a long time. He was known to a lot of people in the area, and he's well known among the community.'
Police believe Ingram, described as a pig hunter, gardener, and tree-feller who 'knows his way around the bush,' could be surviving in the outback despite temperatures soaring beyond 40 degrees Celsius.
Previous Court History Revealed
Court records obtained by the Daily Mail reveal that Ingram appeared at Lake Cargelligo Local Court on December 3 over allegations he stalked, intimidated, and assaulted Ms Quinn and damaged her property. He pleaded not guilty and was granted bail with conditions requiring him to report daily to Lake Cargelligo Police Station and stay 100 metres from her home or workplace.
Records also show Ingram was a known domestic violence offender, having pleaded guilty in 2021 to assaulting another woman in Griffith. When questioned about the bail decision during a press conference, Commissioner Holland explained: '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.'
Ingram is described as between 165cm and 170cm tall with a medium build, short dark hair, and brown eyes. He was last seen driving a Ford Ranger utility with NSW registration DM-07-GZ featuring council signage, a metal tray back, high-visibility side markings, and an emergency light bar on the roof, though police haven't ruled out that he may have since switched vehicles.
Authorities have urged anyone who sees Ingram not to approach him and to contact Triple Zero immediately. The community of Lake Cargelligo, while not officially in lockdown, has been advised to exercise extreme caution with the knowledge that an armed and dangerous offender remains at large.
