QLD police hail kids as heroes after mum allegedly murdered in broad daylight

“This is a horrid situation. A life has been lost in front of children by a really terrible act of violence,” said Queensland Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski.

A Queensland man who allegedly shot a mum dead in her car in front of her children reportedly had his firearms license revoked years earlier.

At 4.30pm on Wednesday afternoon, Natalie Frahm, 34, was sitting in the car in the driveway of her South Mackay home with her two children, aged 11 and 12, who were sitting in the backseat.

They were on their way to a sporting event when a 31-year-old man, Ryan Geoffrey Cole, reportedly approached the car and shot Natalie in the head, killing her instantly. 

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Natalie Frahm was shot and killed in front of her South Mackay home.

Mum reportedly shot in head in front of QLD home

Following the sound of gunshots, the two girls fled the car and ran to a 66yo neighbour for urgent help. 

The 66yo then rushed to Natalie’s car to help before he was shot by Cole in the hand and chest. 

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The 66yo has been transferred to Mackay Base Hospital, where he remains in a serious but stable condition. 

Cole has been accused of fleeing the scene following the alleged shooting, prompting police to lock down the entire area while they hunted him down. 

A few hours after the shooting, Cole was spotted driving on the Bruce Hwy and was arrested outside a nearby service station. 

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While investigations into the incident are ongoing, it’s understood the shooter and Ms Frahm lived on the same street but did not know each other. 

“That’s a horrid situation,” Queensland Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski told 7News on Thursday. “A life has been lost in front of children by a really terrible act of violence.”

Golleschewski commended the two young children for their quick thinking following the shooting. “I want to acknowledge and commend their bravery for actually managing to remove themselves from such a dangerous situation and raise the alarm,” he said. 

“It's incredibly brave, and I can't even begin to imagine the trauma that they must be experiencing.” 

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Ryan Geoffrey Cole wa arrested and charged with murder and attempted murder. Picture: 7News

Alleged shooter lost firearm license years before shooting

Following further investigations into the alleged shooter, Queensland police revealed the 31yo’s firearms license was suspended in 2021 “as a result of his conduct and other charges that he’d faced.” 

“We will look really closely not only at what occurred yesterday but the lead up to that in terms of this person’s access to weapons and how he might have got that weapon,’ he said. 

“These are things that concern us greatly. There are many licensed weapons holders in Queensland and, by and large, they’re very responsible people. That’s why we have such a strict regime in terms of licensing and our ability to inspect and what we can do if people do the wrong thing.”

Police are also investigating whether mental health played a role in the shooting. “There’d been no recent calls for service in relation to any sort of disturbance or any mental health issue,” said Detective Acting Superintendent Emma Novosel.

No motive for the shooting has been released, and police have not confirmed whether Cole had access to other weapons. 

“It’s not believed that the man and woman were known to each other; however, preliminary investigations indicate they lived on the same street,” said Novosel.

“Certainly at this stage, the motives behind the attack on this woman and man are unknown, so there’ll be further investigations that are undertaken to determine what’s bought about this incident.” 

Cole was charged with murder and attempted murder before facing Mackay Magistrates Court on Thursday. 

The case was adjourned until Friday, with Cole remanded in custody. 

Originally published as QLD police hail kids as heroes after mum allegedly murdered in broad daylight