Mackay shooting: Everything we know about Ryan Cole and Natalie Frahm
It is a tragedy that has rocked a small Queensland community. This is everything we know about the shooting in Mackay.
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A man has been charged with murder after the death of a woman and the serious injury of a 66-year-old man who came to her aid.
Ryan Cole, 31, of South Mackay appeared in Mackay Magistrates Court early on Thursday from a watch-house videolink, listening to his charges with his hands clasped together.
This is everything we know so far >>>
WHAT IS THE TIMELINE OF EVENTS?
It will be alleged Natalie Jane Frahm, a 34-year-old South Mackay woman, was sitting in a vehicle parked outside a Robb Place residence when she was approached by a man who was armed with a firearm about 4.30pm on Wednesday.
He allegedly shot the woman, who sustained critical injuries and died at the scene.
Detective Acting Superintendent Emma Novosel said Ms Frahm was parked in her driveway with two children in the back when she was shot.
Queensland Ambulance Service said paramedics arrived at 4.36pm.
It is alleged a 31-year-old man then shot 66-year-old nearby resident James Trevor McGill, striking him in the chest area.
He was transported to Mackay Base Hospital in a serious but stable condition.
Mackay Whitsunday Superintendent Graeme Paine said that officers had secured a number of different crime scenes including the Robb Place address and the BP/KFC in Paget.
Earlier police said the 31-year-old alleged offender left the scene in a silver Mitsubishi Triton prior to police arriving.
At about 5.20pm, police made an emergency declaration under the Public Safety Preservation Act (PSPA) encompassing Robb Place, Paradise Street, Archibald Street, Kindermar Street and Denton Street.
Police later tracked the Mitsubishi Triton to a service station on the corner of the Bruce Hwy and Statham Dr at Paget, where the 31-year-old man was taken into custody about 7.45pm without incident.
The PSPA was revoked at about 10.30pm.
On June 24 Mackay detectives believed they had found the weapon used.
Detective Acting Superintendent Emma Novosel confirmed three firearms were removed over the weekend from the Robb Place house where Ryan Geoffrey Cole lived.
WHO ARE THE VICTIMS?
Natalie Jane Frahm was allegedly shot in the head as she sat in her car with two girls in the backseat.
It is understood Ms Frahm and Mr Cole were not known to each other, however resided on the same street.
A young girl who witnessed the alleged shooting murder was struggling to process the terrible tragedy, according to those close to the Mackay family.
Police praised the girls, aged just 11 and 12, for their bravery after they escaped the alleged gunman and ran for help at a nearby home where 66-year-old James “Jimmy” McGill had been caring for his mother.
She was about to drive the girls to an afternoon sporting event.
Ms Frahm had relocated from Mount Isa to the Mackay region about two years ago with her family.
She attended school at Chatsworth Primary and James Nash State High in the Gympie region before moving to Mount Isa and Mackay.
Ms Frahm was an avid member of Mang-gon Thai Boxing gym.
Tiffany Mulligan met Natalie over a year ago at the gym and said she had been working from home doing administration for her brother’s business.
Ms Mulligan said while Natalie’s smile ‘would light up a room’ her boxing skills were fierce.
Mr McGill allegedly suffered a gunshot wound to his shoulder and hand as he came to her aid.
He was transported to Mackay Base Hospital in a serious but stable condition.
A Robb Pl resident said Mr McGill was regularly at the house to care for his 89-year-old mother. They said he was a “great person and a wonderful son”, and had just retired.
“You are charged, sir, that on June 19, 2024 at Mackay in the state of Queensland you murdered Natalie Jane Frahm,” Magistrate Damian Dwyer said as Ryan Cole fronted court on Thursday.
“You’re further charged that on June 19 you attempted to unlawfully kill James Trevor McGill.”
The court heard Mr Cole’s lawyer was Macrossan and Amiet director Steven Hayles.
Mr Dwyer directed that the full brief of evidence be provided by August 2 and listed a committal for September 11.
The matters were adjourned to June 21 for committal mention.
WHAT IS THE BACKGROUND OF RYAN COLE?
Speaking at a press conference, Detective Acting Superintendent Emma Novosel said Mr Cole was known to police but had not come to their attention in the weeks prior to the incident.
Supt Novosel said Cole was a labourer, but did not know whether he was currently employed.
Detective Novosel confirmed Mr Cole had previously possessed a gun licence, but did not at the time of the incident.
It was later revealed the alleged shooting occurred on Mr Cole’s birthday.
When asked whether Mr Cole has possession of 12 guns or a grenade, she said further details would be determined by the investigation.
Mr Gollschewski said Cole lost his weapons licence in 2021 and 11 weapons were taken from him at the time.
“That was as a result of his conduct, the weapons were removed and the licence was revoked,” he said.
Mr Gollschewski said police would investigate how Cole allegedly accessed firearms on Wednesday.
The alleged murderer, who previously lived in Mundubbera, was bitten by a deadly snake in 2008 when he was 15.
He said he was bitten twice on foot by a coastal taipan, which has the third most toxic venom of all land snakes, as he jumped into a swimming hole in the Burnett River.
“I’ve been attacked twice and bitten four times -- that’s pretty unlucky,” he said at the time.
“But then it is really lucky to have survived. I’m really grateful to my mates that they knew what to do and did it.”
His brother Jakob and his friends dragged him from the waterhole and were later commended for their actions and received bravery awards.
WHAT HAVE POLICE SAID?
Commissioner Steve Gollschewski said the shooting was a “horrid situation”.
“A life has been lost by a really terrible act of violence by the alleged offender and another person has been seriously injured,” he said.
“That person is in custody so the threat to the community is not there anymore.”
Mackay Whitsunday Superintendent Graeme Paine on Wednesday described it as “absolutely shocking”.
“They were obviously very fearful … it’s an absolutely tragic situation,” he said.
“I don’t have any details at this stage in relation to any motive or any reasons behind what’s occurred, the investigation is in its early stages but we are running out a number of different inquiries.”
WHAT DID WITNESSES SEE?
A mechanic described the moment police swarmed on the alleged gunman.
Tyler Camilleri witnessed the arrest of the man a short time after pulling up at the BP service station.
“I heard the brakes of one of the cop cars go off and I thought that’s a bit weird so I turned around and saw about four, five, six cop cars pull up at the same time,’’ Mr Camilleri said.
“They all get out and they are all screaming ‘Put the gun down, you’re under arrest, stop, you know all that kind of stuff.’’
“He seemed to have put it down pretty quickly the moment he saw all the coppers.’’
Joseph Romal, who has lived at Amiet St for more than a decade, said he went to return home at 5pm when police warned him it would be a couple of hours until he could get to his house.
Members of the public at the Mackay Show, on its second day, were only somewhat aware of the shooting when asked at about 7pm.
Jeff Lewis, 32, of Bakers Creek said he had “no idea” about the shooting but was “shocked to hear this has happened in Mackay”.
WHAT HAS BEEN THE COMMUNITY RESPONSE?
On July 4 family and friends gathered to say a last goodbye to Natalie Frahm.
In the days prior Natalie’s loved ones grieved their loss as one friend expressed her devastation and how she is trying to support Natalie’s family.
Nearby neighbour Denise Home said she was trying to move on.
“It’s just devastating,” she said
“I met (the alleged shooter) a couple of times, he always seemed nice.
“It shakes you up, I was terrified when I got home because he was still on the loose.
“When I got home, I locked everything.”
Tiffany Mulligan met Natalie over a year ago at Mang Gon Thai Boxing and has reached out to her family.
Ms Mulligan said her late friend had been working from home doing administration for her brother’s business, meaning the pair could be in constant contact.
Mang-Gon Thai Boxing gym owner Nicolaas Van Der Zee started a Go Fund Me fundraiser for Ms Frahm’s two children.
He asked people to donate to help ease the financial burden.
Gofundme page here.
Originally published as Mackay shooting: Everything we know about Ryan Cole and Natalie Frahm
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