Family of WA shooting victims release statement on tragedy

The family of those killed in the Margaret River shooting on Friday has released a statement asking for the community to “refrain from speculating” on the circumstances that led to the tragedy.

Police have confirmed Katrina Miles, her four children Taye, 13, Rylan, 12, Ayre, 10, and 8-year-old Kayden and her parents Peter Miles, 61, and Cynda Miles, 58, were all found dead at the family’s Osmington property on Friday.

Family members said on Saturday they are “still trying to understand how this could happen”.

“We are devastated by this shocking event,” the statement read, according to multiple media reports. “We are stunned and still trying to understand how this could happen.

“We respectfully ask that the community refrain from speculating on the circumstances surrounding this tragic incident.

“We thank the community for their support and ask that our privacy is respected as we grieve.”

Katrina and her children lived in a converted shed on the property, which was owned by her parents, Peter and Cynda, who lived in the main house.

WA Police Commissioner Chris Dawson confirmed on Saturday that three firearms found at the scene were licensed to Peter Miles. All seven victims had gunshot wounds.

Police were called to the harrowing scene at the rural property on Friday morning. There, they found one victim outside and an adult female dead inside the main house. The bodies of a female adult and four children were found in the converted shed.

According to Perth Now, police have spoken to the children’s father Aaron Cockman, who, along with other family members, is providing “very valuable information” to aid the investigation.

“He’s understandably grieving, we’re providing him with as much support as we can,” Commissioner Dawson said.

“He’s in a place where he’s getting support.”

Dawson said in a media conference on Saturday that police had reached some preliminary conclusions, and were treating the incident as a murder-suicide.

“What I will confirm is that at 05:15am yesterday morning, police received a triple zero emergency call from a male person,” Dawson said. “We know where the call was made from, we know who’s phone the call was made from. I’ve listened to the message.

“I’ve been briefed by the homicide officers. While we’ve come to some preliminary conclusions, I’m satisfied on the briefing I’ve received from the homicide detectives as to the circumstances regarding that, but because we have some forensic and technical elements still underway, I’m not prepared to go any further than that.”

Police believe the triple 0 call was made from the property, but said it was a “complex criminal investigation”.

“We are treating this as a matter in which six persons are subject of a homicide crime scene,” Commissioner Dawson continued. “There is a seventh person deceased. It’s far too premature to come to any conclusive statement about that.”

The tragic incident is the first mass shooting in Australia since Martin Bryant killed 35 people at Port Arthur in 1996. Following the attack, John Howard’s government announced sweeping changes to the country’s gun laws.

If you feel depressed or need to talk to someone, Lifeline is available 24 hours a day on 13 11 14 or at lifeline.org.au. You can also call the Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467 or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636.

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