Lake Cargelligo, January 22, 2026 (Agencies) – At least three people have been killed and another seriously injured in a shooting incident in the rural New South Wales town of Lake Cargelligo, authorities said on Thursday.
Emergency services were called to a residential area near Walker Street at around 4:40 p.m. local time, where officers discovered two women and one man dead. Another man was taken to hospital in serious but stable condition.
A large-scale manhunt is underway for the suspected gunman, who police have identified but not yet apprehended. Residents have been urged to remain indoors while specialist units conduct searches and investigations. Multiple crime scenes have been established as part of the ongoing inquiry.
Authorities have not confirmed a motive, though the victims are reported to be local residents. Police are appealing for public assistance in locating the suspect.
Lake Cargelligo, a small town in the Central West region of New South Wales with a population of approximately 1,500, is on high alert as police continue their search.
This incident comes just over a month after a mass shooting in Sydney that left multiple people dead, raising concerns about gun violence in Australia.