Community in shock after 'well regarded' father shoots daughter, takes own life

A neighbour to a “well-regarded” father who shot his daughter before taking his own life has described what he believed happened and how the tight-knit community has been impacted.

A father has shot his daughter and taken his own life in a tragic ordeal this week in a tiny Bartle Frere community. Picture: Tim Little.

A tight-knit community beneath Queensland’s highest peak is in shock after a “well regarded” father shot his daughter before taking his own life in what neighbours say was a “preventable” tragedy.

More than a dozen police cars were spotted hurtling towards a Bartle Frere address on Tuesday night, after longterm resident John Francis Pearce shot his daughter in the leg causing her to flee to a neighbour’s property for help.

Mr Pearce was later found dead by police.

A long-term resident and neighbour who wished to remain anonymous, recalled hearing “some shots” at around 7.30pm.

He said he believed Mr Pearce had been facing a number of pressures at the time.

“I think it was a culmination of social and personal pressures,” he said.

“The community really feels a loss of a long-term resident.

“He was a really well regarded, long term resident.”

In the aftermath of the shooting access roads into the community were blocked off by police and residents evacuated.

But it is understood no other members of the public were at risk.

Nestled among rainforests and crystal clear streams, one neighbour told the Cairns Post the tiny community had formed their own “nucleus”. Picture: Supplied

A neighbour said he had known Mr Pearce for decades and that together with the few surrounding houses surrounding they had formed their own community, which occasionally had tensions.

“We would occasionally get together for a beer or a chat … we really sort of formed out own little nucleus,” he said.

“We aren’t all perfect … if every community was made up of just perfect people who would be left.”

“But this has galvanised the entire community.”

He believed the tragedy could have been avoided.

“We don’t take care of each other anymore … I think we have lost that in our social circles,” he said.

“Something like is always preventable … but we can’t neglect our responsibility to help each other or wait for the government to help.”

Mr Pearce’s daughter was discharged from Cairns Hospital on Tuesday night with minor injuries.

The Cairns Post has chosen not to identify the woman who is understood to be aged in her 30s.

Cairns Division 1 councillor Brett Moller said the community was grieving after this week's tragedy. Picture: Brendan Radke

Cairns Regional Council Division One Councillor Brett Moller said tragedies such as the shooting this week were felt strongly in regional communities.

“This is a very tragic time for what is a very small and tight-knit community of Bartle Frere and Mirriwinni,” he said.

“Incidents like these are always felt deeply across smaller communities.

“Our heartfelt condolences go out to the family, who are in our thoughts and prayers.

“We will respect their privacy during this difficult time.”

The shooting comes just months after Jamie Paul murdered wife Krystel before taking his own life at their Mount Sheridan home.

Originally published as Community in shock after 'well regarded' father shoots daughter, takes own life