More details emerge after Caloundra West double fatal shooting

Shocking new details have emerged from the tragic double fatal shooting in Caloundra West, with police probing a social media murder-suicide pact that rocked the sleepy suburb.

A social media suicide pact is believed to have been behind a tragic double shooting murder-suicide in a sleepy Sunshine Coast street.

A Sunshine Coast woman, 48, and a 52-year-old Browns Plains man were found dead with gunshot wounds at a Teal St home in Caloundra West about 6.30pm Monday.

Investigators revealed police officers found the pair during a welfare check at the home after they rang police and told them of their intentions.

Detective Acting Inspector John Mahony said the woman called police advising she intended to end her life. Shortly after, neighbours heard the fatal gunshots.

Detective Mahony said police believed the pair, who were not involved in a domestic relationship, connected via social media and shared a common intention to end their lives.

“(It was) a premeditated act by both deceased persons and well organised and obviously facilitated by both persons who wished to end their lives,” he said.

Police are investigating the deaths of a man and woman after locating their bodies at a Caloundra West home. Picture: Patrick Woods.

He said the matter, while still under investigation, was a murder-suicide.

“Investigations thus far suggest the 52-year-old male person has ended the life of the 48-year-old woman and then a very short time later has ended his own life,” he said.

Detective Mahony said the backyard of the Caloundra West home was a traumatic scene for all emergency personnel involved and surrounding neighbours who heard the gunshots.

He said police understood the man was with the woman when she called police.

“It (the call) was an indication to police communications of their intent to end both of their lives and I dare say to encourage police to attend that residence rather than family or other people to locate their bodies,” he said.

He said police had contacted the victim’s families.

“Both the deceased didn’t reach out to family members and other support agencies, with the intention to end their lives at the forefront of their minds,” Detective Mahony said.

He said the investigation was in its early stages and police were working to confirm how long the pair knew each other and what site they used to connect.

“The forensic examination of digital devices seized by police last night should provide a clearer picture in the days ahead,” he said.

Police at the scene where two people found dead at a home at Caloundra West. Picture: 7 News Brisbane

Some neighbouring homes and backyard play equipment were sprayed with blood, with forensic cleaners due to arrive on the scene on Tuesday.

Stunned neighbours said on Tuesday morning that “you couldn’t find a quieter couple”.

One long-term resident said the incident had left them stunned.

“This is a great neighbourhood,” she said.

She said the pair had only lived in the street for about six months and were seen walking together regularly.

The man and woman have not been formally identified but were known to each other.

Police are not looking for anyone else in relation to the incident.

The area is home to many young families and several children and their parents reported hearing a range of noises about the time of the tragedy, from what sounded like rocks hitting a wall to a loud slap of a mosquito, but many didn’t consider a gunshot as a possibility in their quiet neighbourhood.

Others reported a car had been towed from the scene on Monday night.

Teal St in Caloundra West where a man and a woman were found dead with gunshot wounds on March 21. Picture: Scott Sawyer

Another resident of five years said he heard nothing while watching television Monday night but saw police cars everywhere on the street.

He said the neighbourhood was usually extremely quiet and said you could normally “drop a pin” in the street and hear it.

He said it was a “great neighbourhood” usually.

He said he saw the undertaker arrive about 10pm to take the bodies of two people away.

Scenes of crimes officers were at the address this morning.

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