Neighbours describe hearing chilling gun fight ‘like World War III’

In lockdown with nowhere to go, neighbours have described hearing the peaceful acreages around Wieambilla turn into a war zone as a gun fight raged. Read the latest developments:

Shell-shocked neighbours have described how the usually peaceful rural area of Wieambilla transformed into something resembling a scene from “World War III” overnight, following the cold-blooded murders of two police officers and a civilian.

Constable Matthew Arnold, 26, and Constable Rachel McCrow, 29 were slain while responding to reports of a missing person at 251 Wains Road just before 5pm on Monday.

A heroic neighbour who came to their aid, Alan Dare, was also shot and killed.

One long-time Wieambilla resident and fellow neighbour recounted the terror of being close to where the deadly firefight took place between camouflage-clad gunmen and specialist police on Monday.

He said he heard “constant gunfire”.

“It was like World War III,” he said.

“There were gunshots all over the place so we brought our animals inside and locked up.

“The last gunshots were heard at about 10.40pm.”

Police from across the Darling Downs swarmed the property along with specialist officers from Brisbane and by about 11pm, three suspects were dead.

It is understood police went to the address to inquire about former school principal Nathaniel Train, who disappeared from Dubbo last December.

The property was owned by Nathaniel’s brother, Gareth and his wife, Stacey.

All three have been confirmed as being killed by special operations police Monday night.

An aerial view of the scene at a property in Wieambilla where the shooting took place. Source: Nine

The neighbour said he didn’t know the Trains, who were new to the area.

“I think they only moved in about a month ago,” he said.

“It’s your own private little area where you don’t get disturbed.

“It is just a really sad thing that happened, I cry for the police and Alan.

“The police in Tara and Chinchilla do a wonderful job.

“This is something you’d expect in Sydney, not a country community.”

The Wieambilla area was formerly one large sheep station until it was divided into lifestyle blocks decades ago.

The neighbour said it was not unusual to hear gunshots in the rural area, but said there were indications something sinister was happening as things unfolded.

An aerial view of the scene at a property in Wieambilla where the shooting took place shows several fires burning. Source: Nine

“My son-in-law and I were out looking for a couple of heifers and we heard about a half a dozen gunshots come from the direction of that house,” the neighbour said.

“It was pretty close to us so we left and came home.”

Fellow neighbour Sam Fraser said the incident was out-of-character for her otherwise “beautiful” community.

“The whole area is divided up into acreage blocks and most people come out here because they want to live off the grid,” she said.

“It’s a beautiful little community, it really is and everyone is out here for the lifestyle.

“Like in any place there is your crime element and some stupid stuff that goes on but this is just a horror thing that has happened.

“Those young police were set up.”

QLD police were searching for missing person Nathaniel Train when a shooting took place at a Wieambilla property in QLD.

Residents along Wains and Mary roads have been reaching out to each other through the night and into the morning to share information and offer comfort.

Ms Fraser said the thought of a neighbour killed while trying to help the police was sickening.

“We thought about leaving last night but all the roads were blocked off,” she said.

“We hunkered down, had all the lights on and dogs out in the yard.”

Despite the tragedy, Ms Fraser said she was committed to her piece of paradise and would not be leaving.

“You immediately think that you should just want to run away, but it is not that simple,” she said.

“Our life is pretty normal out here and it is a nice little community.

“I don’t see that I will change. I am 70, I have found my niche (and) I have got my friends and my community.

“I certainly think my daughter and grandson might thing about returning to somewhere there is more people.

“But this was a calculated attack. It was intentional and not some crazy drug thing.”

The Wieambilla property on the Western Downs where two police officers were gunned down by brothers Gareth and Nathaniel Train.

Mother and son Belle and Caleb Armstrong were seen walking down the streets of Tara offering candy canes to the deeply saddened community.

“After everything that’s happened, everyone deserves to smile,” Ms Armstrong said.

The woman, who works at the Tara Commercial Rd Pub, said she’d known ‘Matty’ since he moved into town and would remember him as a ‘delightful’ and ‘beautiful’ person.

“He became a very good friend,” she said.

“It’s a very big loss especially as they’re people so young and they had their whole lives ahead of them.”

Despite living 30 minutes from the Waines Rd crime scene, Ms Armstrong said she wasn’t taking any risks when she heard of the news.

“I definitely locked my doors and took the key out of the car for the first time ever,” she said.

“Just knowing these guys had guns and were on the loose last night dressed in camouflage and putting out execution-style killings, it was scary and really disgraceful.”

Graham Stewart lays flowers at Chinchilla Police Station in memory of fallen officers, consoled by Qld Police Union Vice President Shane Prior. Tuesday, December 13, 2022. Picture: Nev Madsen.

The mother said she watched the horrifying incident play out via social media.

“I saw it all unfold on Facebook, I was in a lot of shock,” she said.

“Knowing (the police) were out there trying to protect us from some crazy people it’s really sad.

“It’s going to have a full on effect to everybody, even right now you can tell the whole town is really down, I don’t think many people know how to react to it because none of us knew what was going to happen.”

Less than 24 hours after the horror unfolded, the small rural community was trying to make sense of the horror.

Queensland Police Union president Ian Leavers said when four police officers arrived at the 251 Wains Rd property at 4.40pm on Monday they were met with a “hail of gunshots”.

“Two police immediately went down,” Mr Levers said.

“Two police officers were able to retreated and take cover, and what I do know is this ruthless, murderous trio have then gone and executed the police on the ground in cold blood.

“It is absolutely disgraceful.”

Police search the area around Joseph's Road and the Tara-Chinchilla Road for armed offenders. Monday, December 12, 2022. Picture: Nev Madsen.

Wreaths have already been laid at Chinchilla Police Station.

Western Downs Mayor Paul McVeigh said the deaths would affect the region for a long time.

“The death of six people is something our community will find hard to comprehend,” Mr McVeigh said.

“When incidents like this happen … in a small community where you can just about touch it, it’s quite scary for the community.”

Constable Matthew Arnold, 26, was one of two Queensland police officers murdered in cold blood during an ambush on a property in Wieambilla on the Darling Downs yesterday. Pic Supplied.

Constable Rachel McCrow, 29, was one of two Queensland police officers murdered in cold blood during an ambush on a property in Wieambilla on the Darling Downs yesterday. Pic Supplied.

Constable Rachel McCrow, 26, and Constable Matthew Arnold, 29, were the two police officers murdered in cold blood.

A Tara woman who said she spoke with Constable Arnold prior to him attending the Wieambilla property has told of the heartache of discovering he was killed in such brutal circumstances.

“I had just spoken to Matt (Constable Arnold) before he went out on the job – he’d helped me out with a few things before,” she said.

“He was a good guy. Couldn’t have gotten a better police officer. He’s truly going to be missed.”

“It’s very sad. It’s a really sad day today.

“It was a cowardly act. I’m glad (the suspects) got what was coming to them.”

The four police officers had attended the remote Wieambilla property in response to a NSW police requested assistance in the matter of a missing person’s report for Nathaniel Train. 

A former principal at Yorkeys Knob State School in Queensland’s far north, the 46-year-old was last seen in Dubbo in December 2021 but had been in contact with family until October 9.

Leah Bulger (left) and Annie Grewar lay flowers at Chinchilla Police Station in memory of fallen officers. Tuesday, December 13, 2022. Picture: Nev Madsen.

Leah Bulger and Annie Grewar were just two of the mourners who rallied for the small community in its day of heartbreak.

“We’re just paying our respects,” Ms Bulger said.

“Our prayers are with the rest of the families, and everyone else at the station,” Ms Grewar said.

Tara Cafe manager Mimi Leis said the town was rocked by the tragedy.

“Tara is really small, and very tight-knit – it’s shocked everyone,” she said.

“The whole town has been quiet this morning.

“Less people than we normally get every morning (have come into the cafe)”

“It is a real shock to the town.”