Father of two brothers behind ambush that killed police officers speaks out

One of the brothers who executed two police officers and a neighbour in an ambush at a Queensland property was obsessed with guns and began a relationship with the other’s wife, according to their father.

The father of Gareth and Nathaniel Train has spoken out about his sons and their relationship in an exclusive interview with A Current Affair aired on Wednesday night.

Ron Train, the father of the men who killed two police officers in outback Queensland, breaks his silence in an exclusive interview.Credit: A Current Affair

Constable Matthew Arnold, 26, Constable Rachel McCrow, 29 and 58-year-old local man Alan Dare were shot dead at a Wieambilla property on Monday afternoon.

After a six-hour siege, Gareth Train, 47, his wife Stacey Train, 45, and former Walgett school principal Nathaniel Train, 46, were killed by police.

Ron Train said he first suspected his sons might have been involved after watching the news on Monday night, but had no idea what happened until there was a knock on the door the next morning.

“I just could not understand how something like this could have occurred with two children who had been raised by my late wife Gwen and myself with certain beliefs, Christian beliefs,” he said.

Nathaniel Train pictured with Stacey Train, who later married his brother Gareth. Credit: A Current Affair

The boys went down a “dark track” and Train believes it started when Nathaniel experienced a breakdown, he said in the exclusive interview.

The pastor described Gareth as a “very volatile, very controlling” man who was obsessed with weapons.

“Gareth, in particular, was obsessed with guns and weapons. Nathaniel to a lesser degree, but he used to go shooting with Gareth,” Train said.

He told the show the boys would go shooting for kangaroos, rabbits and other animals.

The father also revealed he hadn’t spoken to the two boys in 23 years, but had no idea why the pair decided to cut off all contact.

“I really don’t know the reason. Seriously I don’t. It wasn’t because I was, I know it’s very hard [for] what they call PK Kids, preachers’ kids,” he said.

But he also explained the complicated family dynamic, with Nathaniel originally married to Stacey, but she later married Gareth.

He had no idea how it happened.

A family photo of Gareth (left) and Nathaniel (back) with their sister Naomi and eldest brother Andrew.Credit: A Current Affair

“I just think in the end that he [Gareth] took over that relationship that Nathaniel and Stacey had because Gareth and Nathaniel are fairly close ... I’m only speculating that somehow he moved into a relationship with Stacey and Nathaniel moved out, and they were divorced,” Train said.

The entire situation was “beyond understanding” and added he grieved for the families of the police officers and bystander who were killed in the shooting.

“It’s horrific, there’s no excuse for that. I don’t excuse my boys for their behaviour, their actions at all.”

He never considered the pair monsters, but said he never stopped loving the men despite their estrangement.

“I don’t consider them monsters, but I am not proud of them,” Train said.

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