Australia Reels from Worst Mass Shooting in Over 20 Years

Australia Reels from Worst Mass Shooting in Over 20 Years

At least four people were in killed in the first mass shooting Australia has seen since 1996.

  • By Sydny Shepard
  • Jun 05, 2019

At least four people were killed and several more injured in the city of Darwin, Australia when a gunman went on a rampage with a pump-action shotgun late Tuesday night in several locations, according to police.

The suspect was apprehended soon after the shooting spree, and was identified as a 45-year-old local who was on parole at the time.

While the motive for the attack is currently unknown, police say they do not believe it was terror-related. The suspect, according to police, might have been looking for a specific person. 

The incident marks the worst mass shooting for Australia since the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, which resulted in the country overhauling its gun laws. Since the 1996 massacre, the worst shooting in the country had been an incident last year in which a grandfather had killed his entire family and himself.

Police confirmed that the weapon, a pump-action 12-gauge shotgun, "may have been stolen as far back as 1997." Authorities will now spend time trying to understand how the shooter acquired his weapon and any motivations that he might have had for the attack. 

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison described the incident as a "terrible act of violence" and said his thoughts were with citizens of the Northern Territory "and the tight-knit community in Darwin."



About the Author

Sydny Shepard is the Executive Editor of Campus Security & Life Safety.

Featured

  • Planning for Your Perimeter

    Planning for Your Perimeter

    The perimeter is an organization’s first line of defense and a critical element of any security and surveillance program. Even if a building’s interior or exterior security is strong, without a solid perimeter surveillance approach any company or business is vulnerable. Read Now

  • The Key Issue

    The Key Issue

    It is February 2014. A woman is getting ready in her room on a cruise ship when she hears a knock on the door; it is a crewmember delivering breakfast. She is not presentable so she tells him to leave it by the door. Read Now

  • Achieving Clear Communications

    Achieving Clear Communications

    Technology within the security industry has adapted to numerous changes through the years, from the early days of analog devices to today’s IP-based solutions, networked cameras, and access control solutions, in addition to analytics, cloud-based products, virtual security guards, and more. Read Now

  • Taking Flight

    Taking Flight

    Airport security is a complex system that incorporates multiple technologies to ensure the safety and security of travelers, employees and the facility itself. Sound-based technologies are integral pieces of this system, providing means of communication, notification and monitoring. Read Now

Most   Popular

Featured Cybersecurity

New Products

  • Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

    Connect ONE®

    Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation. 3

  • Camden Door Controls ‘SER” Surface Boxes and Extension Rings

    Camden Door Controls ‘SER” Surface Boxes and Extension Rings

    Camden Door Controls has introduced new ‘SER” surface boxes and extension rings that provide a complete solution for new construction. In addition, they provide a simple and robust solution when replacing round wired and manual push plate switches with either Camden’s wired or wireless SureWave™ no-touch switches or Kinetic™ no-battery wireless switches. 3

  • Schlage RC reader controller

    Schlage RC Reader Controller

    This new innovative device combines the power of the Pure IP™ access control technology pioneered by ISONAS with Schlage’s intelligent hardware and credentials, delivering a comprehensive and cost-effective perimeter solution to customers. 3