Police name alleged Devonport shooter, reveal gun used in the incident has never been registered
Police say there are “indications of jealousy” as a possible motive behind a deadly triple shooting in Devonport as they investigate the events that led to the tragic incident. LATEST >>
Police & Courts
Don't miss out on the headlines from Police & Courts. Followed categories will be added to My News.
THE man responsible for a triple shooting on Saturday declared his love for his female victim just a week before the deadly incident that left two dead and one wounded.
Paul Carey, 35, posted Facebook photos of himself with the woman on October 31 saying: “I love this woman with all my heart, you mean the world to me.”
Tasmania police on Sunday released Mr Carey’s identity, saying the Burnie man knew his victims.
Detective Inspector Kim Steven said there was “a connection between all three”.
“There’s certainly indications of jealousy that may have been involved in this,” he said.
The possible motive was revealed as police confirmed Mr Carey shot and killed Christopher Walters, 32, at a house in William Street, Devonport, early on Saturday morning.
He also shot a 38-year-old woman, before shooting himself dead.
The woman has spoken to police and has been in touch with her two children, including a 10-year-old boy who saw the shooting and 12-month-old daughter.
Police are trying to find out how Mr Carey obtained the shotgun he used, as officers and gun control lobbyists are pleading for Tasmanians to hand in any unused firearms.
Insp Steven said police were seeking public help to find out how Mr Carey acquired the unregistered Winchester shotgun “in the past three months” for $200 or $300.
“The firearm was not registered, and the offender did not have a firearms licence,” he said.
“We would like to hear from anyone who has information about how the offender acquired the firearm.”
Vice-president of Gun Control Australia Roland Browne said: “The big question is how he got hold of the gun, was it buried or hidden?”
After the Port Arthur massacre in 1996, he said there was “a lot of talk about guns being buried” during the government’s buyback scheme but he believed they were mainly semi-automatic weapons.
“Guns like this are lying around in cupboards, under beds and in sheds,” he said.
“As a community we need to take them out of circulation and the police can’t do that alone.
“If there was domestic violence situation we should know whether there were any indicators that things were going wrong and could there have been early intervention?”
Mr Browne said the shootings would have been “highly traumatic for police”.
Dr Di Stow, the president of the Counselling and Psychotherapy Federation of Australia, said for those affected by the deaths talking with a counsellor was a “very important part of the recovery process”.
“Anyone, a young child or an adult, who witnessed this terrible event will benefit from talking with a counsellor to work through how they’re feeling and to process difficult emotions to start working through the trauma,” Dr Stow said.
“It’s important for witnesses to take care of themselves, pay attention to their emotional health, to recognise when they need extra support, and talk with others as needed – indeed maintain contact with family and friends, and also avoid overexposure to media.”
EARLIER: THE two men involved in a tragic triple shooting at Devonport early on Saturday morning have been named by police.
Christopher Walters, 32, was fatally shot at a house in William Street about 1am on Saturday.
Paul Carey, 35, of Burnie, was named as the offender.
A 38-year-old woman who was also shot remains in the Launceston General Hospital in a stable condition.
Detective Inspector Kim Steven said police were continuing to investigate the shooting and wanted to establish the source of the firearm involved, a Winchester shotgun.
“Investigations have determined the offender, a 35-year-old man from Burnie, acquired the firearm in the past three months,” Insp Steven said.
“The firearm was not registered, and the offender did not have a firearms licence.
“We would like to hear from anyone who has information about how the offender acquired the firearm.”
The person who assisted the offender in sourcing the firearm is encouraged to contact detectives, without fear of prosecution, Insp Steven said.
“It is important we establish the sequence of events which led up to the incident,” he said.
“The firearm was imported legally in the 1970s, prior to the Firearms Act 1996, and has never been registered.
“Illegal firearms pose a significant risk to the community, as we have seen with the tragic events of yesterday.
“These events will have a life-long impact on the families involved.”
Tasmania has a permanent firearms amnesty, which means unregistered, unwanted or illegal firearms and ammunition can be surrendered to police or a firearms dealer without fear of prosecution.
“I encourage anyone who has, or has knowledge of, illegal firearms to hand them in,” Insp Steven said.
Information can be provided to police on 131 444 or anonymously through CrimeStoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at crimestopperstas.com.au
Everybody appearing at Hobart Magistrates Court, Tuesday, February 11
Here is a list of people appearing at Hobart Magistrates Court on February 11.
Seven people charged during Party in the Paddock festival
Police were out in force for the Party in the Paddock festival, putting in a finale effort through a road safety operation. The results.