Floral tributes have been placed at the scene in Floreat home following a tragic incident where a man shot a mother and daughter before taking his own life. The daughter of the perpetrator had warned the police multiple times about the danger he posed, raising questions about the effectiveness of law enforcement response in cases of domestic violence.
Floral tributes have been placed outside the Floreat home in Perth where Jenny Petelczyc, 59, and her 18-year-old daughter, Gretl Petelczyc, were fatally shot by Mark Bombara, 63, on Friday. Bombara subsequently took his own life. The incident occurred as Bombara was reportedly searching for his ex-wife, who had been staying with the Petelczycs after leaving Bombara weeks prior.
In a statement released by Bombara’s daughter, Ariel Bombara, it was revealed that she had contacted police three times between March 30 and April 2 to warn them about her father’s access to firearms and the imminent threat he posed. Despite her alerts, she stated that police did not take sufficient action or issue a 72-hour temporary protective order.
WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch announced an internal investigation into the police’s handling of these warnings, stating that it is crucial to determine what was done and what responses were considered at the time. Premier Roger Cook and Police Minister Paul Papalia have both highlighted the need for tougher gun laws and improved measures to address domestic violence.
Bombara, who legally owned 11 guns and two pistols under various licenses, used one of these firearms in the incident. New proposed gun laws in Western Australia would have restricted his access and required mental health checks, which might have prevented the tragedy.
The investigation will seek to provide clarity and assess possible failings in the police response to the warnings given by Ariel Bombara.
