Three Killed in New South Wales Shooting on Australia’s National Day of Mourning for Bondi Victims

At least three people were killed in a shooting in the small town of Lake Cargelligo in Australia’s New South Wales on Thursday afternoon, police said.

New South Wales Police confirmed that two women and one man died in the incident, while another man was taken to hospital in a serious but stable condition.

Emergency services were called to Walker Street near Yelkin Street at about 4.40 pm local time following reports of gunfire. Officers from the Central West Police District attended the scene and established a crime scene, police said in a post on X.

The incident comes just over a month after Australia was shaken by a mass shooting at a Jewish festival at Bondi Beach on December 14, 2025, in which a father and son killed 15 people. Thursday’s shooting occurred on the same day the country observed a national day of mourning for the Bondi victims.

Millions of Australians were asked to observe a minute’s silence at 7:01 pm on Thursday. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the Bondi attack had shattered a place that symbolised openness and safety. “This is a place where nothing should break except for the waves. But a lot broke that night,” he said, according to AFP.

Police said an investigation into the Lake Cargelligo shooting is underway and urged residents to stay indoors and avoid the area. Authorities sent a geo-targeted emergency SMS to the entire town warning people to remain inside.

“There should be people staying inside right now… We will be throwing everything at it that is available,” a police spokesperson told ABC.

Roy Butler, the independent MP for Barwon, said the alleged offender had not yet been detained. “As there has been a number of shootings and the offender has not been detained, please stay indoors until the advice changes,” he wrote on Facebook, citing police advice.

“It’s a terrible situation, and it’s still live, so we don’t have much information. My thoughts are with the victims and their families,” Butler said.