Nathaniel Train: Walgett parents in shock over principal’s involvement in Weambilla police shooting

Parents at the former school of principal Nathaniel Train – who was at the centre of a bloody cop massacre – have expressed their “disbelief” and “heartbreak” that the man they once knew could take a dark path.

Parents outside the Walgett primary school where once-respected principal Nathaniel Train once worked have expressed their “disbelief” of how he became involved in a horrific police shooting in rural Queensland.

Nathaniel, alongside his brother Gareth Train, were killed in a dramatic firefight with special operations police on Monday night.

Two young police officers, a neighbour, and Stacey Train, understood to be Gareth’s wife, also died in the bloody massacre.

Katrina Marshall, whose son Jaydan was taught by Nathaniel Train at Walgett Community College Primary School, said she was in disbelief when she heard the news.

“I was honestly hoping it was a different Nathaniel Train that was involved,” she said.

Former principal Nathaniel Train.

Katrina and Jaydan Marshall outside Walgett Community College Primary School.

“He used to walk out every afternoon and greet the kids in the playground. I couldn’t see him doing what he’s being accused of, so it’s really quite hard, it’s emotional.

“I think the (school) staff are just heartbroken at the moment, and much like everybody else, have no idea which way to turn.”

Ms Marshall said she didn’t believe the former school principal was “evil”, highlighting how he had gone above and beyond to support her son with special needs.

“ (Nathaniel) put things in place to make sure Jaydan had a safe place at school, had different resources than a lot of the other kids because he needed them and simple things like that,” she said.

“He may or may not have done something incredibly horrible to another person’s family, but we don’t know that side of the story yet, we know that he was there but we don’t know under what circumstances he was there.”

Mr Train left the school due to medical conditions late last year, with the move a source of gossip in the country town.

The school community effectively locked down on Tuesday afternoon, actively discouraging parents from speaking to media.

Some Walgett residents were distancing the country town’s link to the bloody events, showing surprise when told a former local was involved.

“It’s got nothing to do with Walgett, it happened 400kms away, 500km even,” Geoff Anderson, aged 72, said.

Another woman said she wasn’t concerned that he had taught local children, expressing sympathy to the young responding police officers which died.