Note: This article contains sensitive material, including the names of deceased Aboriginal individuals.

Julian Ingram remains on the run, a week after he is suspected of fatally shooting three individuals in Lake Cargelligo, located in New South Wales’ Central West.

As of Friday, an extensive law enforcement operation is underway. The effort includes officers from nearby precincts, Defense Force helicopters, riot control units, negotiators, and homicide detectives scouring the area.

On the afternoon of January 23, local officers responded to gunfire reports on Bokhara Street. There, they discovered a 32-year-old man and a 24-year-old pregnant woman deceased inside a vehicle.

Just twenty minutes later, authorities were called to a home on Walker Street where they found a second woman, thought to be the 24-year-old’s aunt, who had also been shot dead. A man at the scene was found wounded and in critical condition.

It’s alleged Ingram shot all four victims, killing three. He then fled town in a work vehicle, believed to be a white Ford Ranger.

Speaking to media outside Lake Cargelligo Police Station on Thursday, Assistant Commissioner Andrew Holland confirmed Ingram had been spotted at Mount Hope.

“We would be confident to say that he is possibly receiving help from people he knows in community,” he said.

“He’s worked for the council, he has worked out towards Mount Hope area … he’s aware where the water sources are, he’s aware where the hidey holes are.

“We have to systemically work through these locations … before we can move onto the next location.”

The Assistant Commissioner confirmed the search will continue, noting the force’s Aboriginal community liaison officers had played an important role.

“Search will continue … indefinitely, until we find someone. We’ll obviously have an appropriate resource level to make sure that the community is safe, and we’ll obviously continue until we can track this man down.”

Domestic violence-related crime

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

He was released by police on strict conditions after being deemed ‘low risk’, not having committed a violent crime in five years.

On December 3, a magistrate at Lake Cargelligo Local Court confirmed bail for Ingram. However, an interim apprehended domestic violence order (ADVO) was made on behalf of the 24-year-old pregnant woman Ingram is now accused of killing.

A requirement of Ingram’s bail conditions was daily reporting to Lake Cargelligo Police Station. Assistant Commissioner Holland confirmed Ingram’s last report was Thursday, January 22 at 8.12am – over 30 hours before the first shot was fired on Bokhara Street.

Addressing media alongside Assistant Commissioner Holland was NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon.

“What we’ve seen at Lake Cargelligo is a terrible tragedy that should not have occurred. Domestic and family violence remains a scourge on our community,” he said.

“There is little doubt that there is significant support in the regions, and I think what we need to keep working on in my role as commissioner has been and will be to work right across government to make sure that all of the possible services are available.”

The Commissioner said the fact that more than 33,000 individuals charged with domestic and family violence assaults in 2025 is a “disgrace”, labelling the issue a “key priority” for him because of its impact on communities like Lake Cargelligo.

‘Painful reminder of an ongoing crisis’

The impact has rippled across New South Wales, with frustrations rising at the lack of adequate action on domestic and family violence.

In a statement, Domestic Violence NSW’s (DVNSW) Aboriginal Steering Committee said the “devastating murders” in Lake Cargelligo are “not isolated incidents”.

“They are a tragic and painful reminder of the ongoing crisis of domestic and family violence affecting Aboriginal communities across NSW, particularly in regional and remote areas,” they said.

The committee acknowledged the gross over-representation of Aboriginal women and children in domestic and family violence statistics.

As it stands, Aboriginal women and children in New South Wales experience higher rates of violence, serious injury and death than any other population group.

“Each statistic represents an Aboriginal woman or child failed by government systems, intended to protect and support.”

In response, the committee has challenged the state government.

“We’re calling on the NSW Government to move beyond expressions of sympathy and provide genuine acknowledgement of this over-representation, grounded in truth-telling about the impacts of colonisation, systemic racism, intergenerational trauma and chronic under-investment in Aboriginal-led responses,” they said.

The organisation said such an acknowledgement “must be matched with action”, proposing a minimum 50 per cent uplift of “core funding for specialist domestic and family services in NSW” that are Aboriginal-led, community-controlled and provide culturally safe and trauma informed services.

“Meaningful commitment from government means long-term, secure funding; partnership with Aboriginal expertise; and accountability for outcomes for Aboriginal women and children. Without this, we will continue to see preventable violence, harm and loss,” they said.

“Our communities deserve safety. Our women and children deserve to live free from violence.”

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Aboriginal Counselling Services 0410 539 905

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