Seven dead in mass tragedy at Margaret River
Four children and three adults have been found dead after a tragedy near Margaret River in Western Australia.
WA Police Commissioner Chris Dawson said officers responded to a “horrific incident” at a rural property in Osmington about 5.15am Friday (local time) where they located seven bodies.
It is understood police received a phone call from a male inside the building. The phone call was recorded but Mr Dawson would not reveal the identity of the caller.
“Upon arrival, police located seven people deceased… I can only describe it as a horrific situation,” he said in a press conference on Friday morning.
“This devastating tragedy will no doubt have a lasting impact on the families concerned, the whole community, and in particular the local communities in our southwest.
BREAKING | WA police confirm “horrific incident" in Margaret River, with 7 people dead – including FOUR children. Two firearms located at the property as detective search for family and friends.
— Laura Banks (@laurakatebanks) May 11, 2018
He said the bodies of two adults were located outside and five bodies were located inside a building on the rural property, approximately 20 kilometres north-east of Margaret River in Western Australia’s south-west.
Two firearms were also found at the property, and gunshot wounds were present on some of the bodies, the police said.
“It appears that gunshot wounds are there but I don’t want to go further than that,” Mr Dawson said.
Five of the seven victims are believed to be Katrina Miles and her four children, aged between 8 and 13.
The other two victims are understood to be Katrina’s parents Peter and Cynda Miles, who lived at the property.
Homicide squad detectives from Perth are assisting the police investigating the circumstances surrounding this tragedy.
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