Lake Cargelligo Shooting: Manhunt Intensifies for Alleged Triple Murderer Julian Ingram – Police Swarm Rural Property Amid Chilling New Leads
In the remote outback town of Lake Cargelligo, 600km west of Sydney, a shocking triple homicide has gripped New South Wales, sparking one of the state’s largest manhunts. Julian Ingram, 37, is wanted over the alleged murders of his heavily pregnant former partner, Sophie Quinn, 25, her new boyfriend John Harris, 32, and Quinn’s aunt, Nerida Quinn, 50. A fourth victim, 19-year-old neighbour Kaleb Macqueen (also reported as McQueen), survived serious gunshot wounds and has bravely recounted the horror.
The alleged killings unfolded in a matter of minutes on Thursday afternoon. Police found Sophie Quinn and John Harris unresponsive in a black Suzuki hatchback, both fatally shot. Ingram, reportedly driving the vehicle, then allegedly proceeded to another nearby residence where he shot Nerida Quinn dead and wounded Kaleb Macqueen, who was working on a car at the property.
Tragically, Sophie Quinn – who had separated from Ingram the previous year and was now in a relationship with Harris – was seven months pregnant with a baby boy due in March. The loss has devastated the small community, with calls for bail reform intensifying after it emerged Ingram was on bail at the time for prior domestic violence-related charges.
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The sole survivor, Kaleb Macqueen, has spoken publicly about the terrifying ordeal. He described hearing gunshots and seeing the gunman – identified as Ingram – allegedly laughing as he opened fire. “He was laughing,” Macqueen told media, his account sending chills through investigators and the public alike. The young man’s survival is nothing short of miraculous, and his courage in coming forward has provided crucial details to police.
Since the shootings, approximately 100 officers from NSW Police, including tactical units, have scoured vast rural areas around Lake Cargelligo. The search has now entered its fifth day, with resources stretched across rugged bushland where Ingram – described as an experienced bushman – is believed capable of surviving off-grid for extended periods.
A major development came with a possible sighting in the Mount Hope district, about 70km north of Lake Cargelligo. This led to an intensified operation, including police swarming a remote rural property in response to tip-offs that Ingram might be hiding there.
Armed officers, supported by a BearCat armoured vehicle, detectives, and medical teams, descended on the site. While no arrest has been confirmed, the raid has fuelled speculation. When contacted by Daily Mail Australia, the property’s custodian (often referred to in reports as the landowner or station custodian) revealed a startling admission: he knew Ingram well and suspected the fugitive could be hiding on one of the properties in the area.
The landowner’s surprisingly calm response has raised eyebrows. Amid the high-drama police presence, he reportedly remained composed, even stating something along the lines of having “seen worse” in the tough outback environment. His nonchalant demeanour – in stark contrast to the gravity of the situation – has only deepened the mystery, prompting questions about local connections and whether Ingram might be receiving aid to evade capture.
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Police have urged extreme caution, warning that Ingram is armed and extremely dangerous. The public is asked not to approach but to report any sightings immediately. Authorities continue to follow leads, including combing multiple properties in the expanded search zone.
The tragedy has rocked Lake Cargelligo, a tight-knit town where such violence is rare. Residents describe a lingering sense of fear and grief, with the effects expected to echo through generations. Community leaders have called for support services as the investigation unfolds.
As the manhunt presses on, questions linger: Will Ingram be found before he strikes again? And what role, if any, did local knowledge play in his evasion? For now, the remote plains of central-western NSW remain on high alert.
