Three people have died and one has been seriously injured after a shooting in Lake Cargelligo, a town in NSW's Central West.
Two women and a man have died, NSW Police said in a statement. Another man was hospitalised in a serious but stable condition.
In a press conference, assistant commissioner Andrew Holland, the Western Region commander, said police had identified an offender who was still at large.
"We have a large search in the area currently underway," he said. "We are requesting that people remain indoors."
Police were called at around 4.20pm to a report of shots fired into a vehicle.
"Upon arrival they located a male and female deceased in the vehicle," Holland said.
A short time later, another woman was shot dead at Walker Street, Lake Cargelligo.
The man she was with was also shot and was rushed to hospital in a critical condition.
Holland said no police officers were involved in the shooting. "We do know that they are Lake Cargelligo locals," he said of the deceased.
The attacker is yet to be publicly identified, as are the victims.
A crime scene has been established and an investigation is underway.
'Large search' in progress
Holland said police are scouring a "large search area" for the shooter.
The public is urged to avoid the area and locals have been told to stay inside.
"There are concerns that this offender may be armed with a firearm ... the offender is currently on the move and we are looking to try and locate this offender," Holland said.
Extra personnel have been brought in from surrounding areas to help with the search, including tactical operations police, search co-ordinators and air crews.
A staff member at the Commercial Hotel in the centre of town, who did not wish to be named, said there had been a lot of police activity after what they believed was a shooting in a house.
"I'm just inside, trying to not be around," they said.
A manager of a local motel said it was "a little bit scary" in the town and she believed more police were headed to the area.
'A terrible situation, and it's still live'
Roy Butler, the NSW MP for Barwon, which includes Lake Cargelligo, said in a social media post he had been on a plane and heard the news moments after landing.
"It’s a terrible situation, and it’s still live, so we don’t have much information. My thoughts are with the victims and their families. I will keep you updated," he wrote.
Police sent a geo-targeted text message to residents telling them to stay inside and avoid the area.
They have appealed to anyone in the area who may have mobile phone or dashcam footage, CCTV or other any other vision relevant to the incident to submit it to police.
Lake Cargelligo is located about three and a half hours south-west of Dubbo. It has a population of around 1,160, according to 2021 Census figures.
— With additional reporting from Australian Associated Press
For the latest from SBS News, download our app and subscribe to our newsletter.
