‘Stay inside:’ Three shot dead, major police operation underway at Lake Cargelligo in central west NSW

Police have shed more details on a horrific shooting in a central west NSW town, as a gunman remains on the run and a massive police operation continues.

Emergency services were called to Walker St, near Yelkin St, in the town of Lake Cargelligo following reports of a shooting about 4.40pm on Thursday.

Three people – two women and a man – have died.

NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Andrew Holland told reporters police were initially called to the scene at 4.20pm after shots were fired into a vehicle.

“Upon arrival they located a male and female deceased in the vehicle, a short time later, a second report of shots fired was made,” he said.

Commissioner Holland said police arrived at a second scene later, discovering another man and woman with gunshot wounds.

He said the gunman was believed to have fled in a vehicle - with 7 News reporting it is a council-owned vehicle.

Commissioner Holland said police senses would be “heightened” and officers would be on “high alert” amid the tensions in the wake of the shooting at Bondi Beach.

He said the scene first responders were confronted with was “horrendous”.

Commissioner Holland said no police were involved in the shooting.

“What I will say is that it’s a tragedy that has taken place in a very small town that will have a big affect on the community,” he said.

“Any death in a small country town is confronting, but again, a scene where you have people shot by firearms is obviously going to make people very, very tense and very, very concerned.

“We have a large search in the area underway and are requesting people remain indoors... for their own safety.”

A crime scene has been established and an investigation into the circumstances of the incident has commenced.

“The public is urged to avoid the area and for local residents to stay inside,” a NSW Police spokesman said.

“More information will be provided when it becomes available.”

“Everyone is really scared”: Local resident says

Local resident Manisha told The Daily Telegraph police cars and ambulances were “all over town”.

“We have been told not to go out of our premises,” she said.

“The town is made of just two main streets – we can hear the sounds (of the sirens).”

Another local said “everyone is really scared” and that police have still not found the gunman.

“Something like this has never happened. Everyone is shocked. Everyone is scared. They are staying home.”

The MP for Barwon, Roy Butler, which covered the Lake Cargelligo has said the incident was “tragic”.

“It’s a terrible situation, and it’s still live, so we don’t have much information,” he said in a post.

“My thoughts are with the victims and their families”.

“Everything is shut in town. Every pub, every shop, IGA, food court – everything is closed,” they said.

Police have sent a geo-targeted text message to everyone in the town, advising residents to stay inside and avoid the area.

Another resident reported seeing police tape around the local pool, on Bokhara St, about 5.45pm.

Vision from the scene shows more than a dozen investigators and first responders on site.

In one frame, what appears to be a covered body is seen on the front lawn of a property.

In another, a first responder is seen seemingly consoling a bystander. The street can be seen cordoned off.

The country town of Lake Cargelligo about 564km west of Sydney and had a population of 1430 at the 2021 Census.

More to come.