A secluded settlement has become the epicenter of an extensive police operation aimed at capturing a man suspected of a deadly shooting spree that left three people dead.

Law enforcement officers swarmed the vicinity of Mount Hope, a diminutive town with mining roots located in central New South Wales, on Sunday following a reported sighting of Julian Ingram, the accused in the triple homicide case.

The 37-year-old, employed by the local council, has been evading capture since allegedly opening fire and killing three individuals, including his pregnant ex-partner, Sophie Quinn, in Lake Cargelligo last Thursday afternoon.

Assistant Commissioner Andrew Holland of NSW Police revealed that leads from the public surfaced overnight, prompting early morning searches across various properties in the Mount Hope area on Sunday.

“Given the presence of an armed suspect in the area, we strongly urge residents to remain vigilant,” he informed media representatives.

Mount Hope is about 90km northwest of Lake Cargelligo, an isolated town with a population of about 1,400 people.

Search stretches over ‘extraordinarily large’ farmland

The manhunt area continues to expand as police search for the experienced bushman.

The region is home to large farms, some spanning 40,000 hectares, leaving police to search numerous possible hideouts.

“The farms are extraordinarily large in size … that’s what’s making search areas difficult,” Holland said.

“You’ve got open paddocks, you’ve got scrubland, you’ve got bushland, we’ve got farm sheds and everything else – we are doing our best to get police to those locations with multiple numbers and clear those locations.”

As the search approaches a fourth day, police did not rule out the possibility that locals had aided the fugitive’s escape, although they didn’t believe he was travelling in company.

His vehicle has not been spotted on point-to-point traffic cameras on major highways, leading police to believe he remained in the area.

Quinn, 25, and her friend John Harris, 32, were killed when bullets were fired into a dark hatchback about 4.20pm on Bokhara St.

Soon after, Quinn’s aunt Nerida Quinn, 50, was shot dead at a home on Walker St, a two-minute drive away.

A 19-year-old man was also shot at the home but survived and is in hospital in a serious but stable condition.

Police allege the shootings are linked to domestic violence.

Ingram, a gardener for the local council, was last seen driving out of town in a Ford Ranger ute with NSW registration DM-07-GZ.

He has a long criminal history and was on bail after being charged with domestic violence offences in November.

Ingram was released on strict conditions after an assessment deemed him low risk because he had not committed any violent crimes in the last five years.

If you or someone you know is impacted by family and domestic violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732, or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au. In an emergency, call 000.

The Men’s Referral Service, operated by No to Violence, can be contacted on 1300 766 491.

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