Gunman 'impregnated three women' this year before Sydney shooting rampage
A gunman who embarked on a shooting rampage across Sydney’s west on Wednesday was “struggling mentally” after reportedly impregnating three women this year.
Daniel King, 32, opened fire on ex-lover Stacey Taylor’s home in Marayong at about 8.45pm before firing shots at St Marys police station and eventually being shot dead outside Penrith police station at 9.30pm after opening fire on officers.
Ms Taylor, a former lover of King’s, told reporters outside her home she had been threatened by him to have an abortion and claimed he said he’d take drastic action if she didn’t.
Ms Taylor said King threatened to hire a hit man "to bash me and stab me in the stomach to make me lose my baby so I wasn't pregnant any more".
Friends close to King say he was desperate to settle down with his girlfriend, identified by the Daily Telegraph as Natalie, who he claimed was his long-term partner, after she had also fallen pregnant with his child.
But once she had learned of Ms Taylor’s pregnancy she called off their engagement, sending King into a mental “struggle”.
“He said he didn’t want to go through life without Nat, he adored her. He was a bit of a player and couldn’t help himself,” a friend told The Daily Telegraph.
Ms Taylor said King had been threatening to kill himself if she didn’t have an abortion.
But according to the publication, a third woman, Claire Day, claims she was also in a relationship with King and too had fallen pregnant with his child earlier this year.
When their relationship ended two months ago, the Brisbane woman didn’t go through with her pregnancy.
While investigators try and determine what led to King embarking on his rampage across western Sydney, further details have emerged of his past.
King suffered a serious setback in life when, as an aspiring rugby league player for Penrith, he suffered a neck injury which resulted in a delayed stroke.
“It left him unable to walk and talk. His mother had to feed him because he had no physical strength remaining in his once strong body,” a profile for King on Men of League’s website reads.
The foundation, which provides support for injured rugby league players during their rehabilitation, revealed he was forced to quit the game – a devastating blow to King who had dreamed of a professional career in the sport where he could support his single mother financially.
With the help of Men of League, he started bodybuilding and competed in the International Federation of Body Building’s NSW Championships in 2015.
But in the years after his return to fitness, his life appeared to be spiralling out of control, with a series of cryptic social media posts in recent weeks prompting concerns from those close to King.
His final Instagram post said: “A COWARD DIES A THOUSAND DEATHS, A SOLDIER DIES BUT ONCE”.
Police showed ‘empathy’ in shooting
Deputy Commissioner Jeff Loy said they had "no choice" but to return fire and officers showed “empathy” as they dragged his body into the police station to render first aid.
Officers involved in the shootout were shaken, but had also "reflected on their own families and themselves and how fortunate they were not to be killed".
"For police to be confronted and to stand up in a confrontation under fire, has shown extreme courage," Deputy Commissioner Loy told 2GB.
A male constable suffered pellet wounds to the back of the head and was taken to Westmead Hospital with non life-threatening injuries, police said.
Several other officers suffered minor injuries that were not gunshot-related.
Deputy Commissioner Loy said it wasn't yet clear if he was a licenced shooter, but his gun was the sort used by tactical police.
Witness footage posted online showed him falling to the ground after being shot multiple times.
The woman filming the footage from a nearby building can be heard screaming "Oh my God! Oh my God! Oh my God!" as the shots ring out.
Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636, Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467.
If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, find help by visiting White Ribbon or calling 1800 RESPECT.
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