Heavily pregnant woman is shot dead in alleged triple homicide at Lake Cargelligo – as massive manhunt is launched for accused killer

A mother and her unborn son have been identified as victims of an alleged triple murder in central west NSW.

Mum to be Sophie Quinn, 25, was found dead inside a vehicle alongside her boyfriend, 32, at Lake Cargelligo, about 600km west of Sydney, at about 4.20pm on Thursday.

The couple had gunshot wounds, allegedly inflicted by her ex-partner Julian Ingram, who is still on the run from police.

Police then found the body of a woman, 50, and an injured man, 19 in a driveway, who are also members of the Quinn family. Ms Quinn was due to give birth in March.

Ms Quinn’s sister Tegan wrote a heartfelt tribute for her family on Friday morning.

‘My sister and best friend,’ she wrote on social media, alongside photos of the family.

‘My aunty,’ she wrote, alongside a photo of the 50-year-old alleged victim. 

A largescale manhunt was launched to find Ingram.

The town of Lake Cargelligo remains in lockdown more than 14 hours after the alleged murders.

Western Region Command Assistant Commissioner Andy Holland confirmed on Friday morning that Ingram was known to the victims and that a ‘domestic violence relationship’ was involved.

‘We’re conducting a wide-scale search of the area around Lake Cargelligo and the adjoining villages,’ he told Sunrise.

‘At this point, we’re looking for public to help us identify both the wanted offender and his vehicle.’

Ingram is described as being of Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander appearance, 165cm–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, described as having council signage, a metal tray back, high-visibility markings on the side and an emergency light bar on the roof.

Anyone who sees Ingram is urged not to approach him and to contact triple zero immediately.

Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.

Specialist police personnel have been flown into the town by PolAir and the Defence Force, including the tactical operations unit, negotiators, and homicide investigators. 

‘At this stage police have identified an offender who is still at large,’ Assistant Commissioner Holland told reporters on Thursday night.

‘We have a large search in the area currently underway and we are requesting that people remain indoors.

‘What I will say is that it’s a tragedy that has taken place in a very small town that will have a big affect on the community.

‘Any death in a small country town is confronting, but again, a scene where you have people shot by firearms is obviously going to make people very, very tense and very, very concerned.’

The shootings have rocked the small country town, which has a population of 1,430.

Residents have been urged to remain indoors as the manhunt continues. 

‘We have been told not to go out of our premises,’ one woman told the Daily Telegraph.

‘The town is made of just two main streets – we can hear the sounds (of the sirens).’