Allegedly murdered mum’s final act of kindness revealed as accused shooter’s identity is revealed in pictures

The mother and daughter gunned down in a Campbelltown driveway had performed welfare checks on and delivered food to the man accused of shooting them.

Police, detectives and sniffer dog at the scene on Elm Rd. Image/Russell Millard Photography

The mother and daughter gunned down in the driveway of a Campbelltown home, sparking an hours-long police siege, regularly visited the man to drop off food and perform welfare checks.

On Saturday afternoon, the 51-year-old man allegedly murdered Aleksandra Vergulis, 51, and is then alleged to have turned the gun on her 22-year-old daughter Daniela Vergulis, leaving her lying in the driveway fighting for life.

The Advertiser understands the man – whose identity was suppressed on Monday – was regularly visited by Ms Vergulis and Daniela at the Elm Rd home to perform welfare checks on the alleged murderer and provide him with food.

On Sunday morning, a bloodied shopping bag remained lying next to a bloodstain on the driveway with its contents of meat and medication strewn across the pavers.

READ MORE:

• What we know about the horror siege

• Mother and daughter identified as shooting victims

Aleksandra Vergulis, 51, and Daniela Vergulis, 22, were allegedly gunned down in the driveway of a Campbelltown home. Picture: Supplied

SA Police refused to comment on claims the accused man had attended the woman’s workplace several times in the weeks before the shooting.

Police said he had been charged with murder and attempted murder over the shooting, with pictures of the alleged murderer surfacing.

One image shows the man handcuffed and in police custody in the back of a car, while another shows him being marched into the City Watch House, where he was taken on Saturday night.

He did not apply for police bail and faced the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Monday.

The man accused of shooting and woman and her daughter at Campbelltown is taken into custody. Picture: 7NEWS

Two months before the shooting, Ms Vergulis, originally from Eastern Europe, posted online about her “brilliant, able and ambitious” daughter’s achievements.

“I am so proud of you sweetheart,” Ms Vergulis, 51, congratulated her daughter Daniela Vergulis on graduating university, signing off as “Mama”.

“I will always be there to support you.

“You are brilliant, able and ambitious, an achiever.

“It was a big pleasure seeing you grow into the beautiful young lady, an educated professional that you are today.

“I bless you with all that you need to earn many more achievements and feasts in life ahead and I will always be there to support you.”

Daniela had posted on LinkedIn after graduating from UniSA.

“I am so proud to announce that I have graduated from the University of South Australia with a Bachelor of Laws (Second class Honours) and Bachelor of Psychology,” she wrote.

A bloodied shopping bag in the driveway of the Elm Rd home where Aleksandra Vergulis and Daniela Vergulis were allegedly shot. Picture: Russell Millard

“I look forward to continuing my career in law and I can’t wait to see where it takes me!

“I am so grateful for my loved ones who have supported me through this journey.”

According to Daniela’s LinkedIn, she works as a legal secretary in the civil litigation department of the Crown Solicitor’s Office and had previously worked as clerk at the Courts Administration Authority.

SA Health declined to provide an update on Daniela, who was in a stable condition on Saturday night and remained in the Royal Adelaide Hospital on Monday, because of the ongoing police investigation.

Ms Vergulis worked as an executive assistant at the University of South Australia in the Education Futures unit.

According to a LinkedIn profile, Ms Vergulis had previously worked as a procurement officer for the Defence Department before joining the university.

UniSA commented on Ms Vergulis’ death on Monday.

Daniela Vergulis had graduated from the University of South Australia just months before being shot.

The shooting sparked an hours-long siege at the Elm Rd home and plunged the street into chaos about 1.30pm Saturday, with police receiving reports neighbours had heard gunshots from a nearby property.

After allegedly shooting the woman and her daughter, the accused man barricaded himself inside with firearms.

When police arrived at the scene, they found Ms Vergulis dead in the driveway and Daniela with serious injuries.

Patrols cordoned off the home and surrounding streets while heavily-armed STAR Group officers rushed to the scene.

Daniela was extracted from the scene by police and taken to hospital.

After negotiations which lasted about four hours, the man was taken into custody without incident, police said.

Aleksandra Vergulis worked as an executive assistant at the University of South Australia. Picture: Supplied

It is understood police remained at the home late on Saturday, illuminating the street and scouring the scene for evidence, while other officers doorknocked nearby homes.

On Sunday morning, bloodstains remained on the home’s driveway, with a bloodied shopping bag’s contents of meat and medication strewn across the pavers.

With the help of police dogs, detectives searched a Hill St property which backs onto the Vergulis home.

The property owner Annette Drakos said police were searching for any evidence that may have been “thrown over the fence”.

“It’s pretty sad what’s happened,” Ms Drakos said.

Ms Drakos, 69, was at church when police contacted her requesting access to her property.

She said residents of Elm Rd were in “shock” after the shooting.

During the siege, Ms Drakos was ordered by police to “stay by the front door”.

Ms Drakos was unsure if police had recovered any evidence from her property.

Neighbours on Elm Rd told The Advertiser of their shock at the shooting.

Tony, who declined to provide his surname, said the shooting was “bizarre”.

“It’s been a pretty horrific 24 hours,” Tony told The Advertiser on Sunday.

He was shocked at the chaos that unfolded in his “sleepy, quiet street”.

“Most people in the street know each other,” he said.

Tony said the the accused man had moved in just before the coronavirus pandemic but was not aware of any issues.

Neighbour Michael Karanastasis said he heard a “bang bang” when the shooting occurred.

“The police told me to get inside,” Mr Karanastasis, 85, said.

Another neighbour, Christine Tabe, said she returned home from the shops on Saturday to the chaotic scene.

“There was a massive police presence so we knew something terrible had happened,” Ms Tabe said.