Jennifer Petelczyc, 59, and her youngest daughter Gretl, 18, were senselessly murdered after becoming the unexpected victims in the marriage breakdown of a family friend which ended in a gunman storming their house.
The pair were fatally shot by Mark Bombara in the affluent suburb of Floreat on Friday afternoon.
Jennifer Petelczyc and her daughter Gretl making a Tiktok video together. Credit: TikTok
Bombara, 63, was the ex-husband of one of Jennifer’s closest friends. At 4.20pm he attended the Berkeley Crescent address carrying a gun, after learning his former partner had sought refuge there following the recent breakdown of their marriage.
When he realised she wasn’t at the address, Bombara turned the firearm on the owner of the house Jennifer, killing her before shooting Gretl, who was critically injured.
Police arrived at the scene and heard the final gunshot at 4.30pm, believed to be Bombara turning the gun on himself.
Gretl was rushed to Royal Perth Hospital where she later died.
Police are investigating whether the women were cable-tied as part of the execution-style killings.
Bombara and Jennifer had met on previous occasions but did not know each other well.
Curtin Independent MP Kate Chaney said the Floreat community was tight-knit, and so many people had a connection either to the family or the street.
Gretl had just passed her driving test in December. Credit: Facebook
“I’m absolutely heartbroken for the family who have lost their loved ones in this really violent way,” she said.
“It feels very close to home and this community is really hurting thinking about the fact that this can happen here in Floreat.
“As a woman, it is really sad to think it’s 2024, and we still have this fundamental problem in our community that a lot of men think that violence is the way to deal with things.”
It’s understood Jennifer’s oldest daughter, 23, is the last surviving member of her immediate family after her father died from illness in 2019.
The two sisters had an incredibly close relationship – even sharing a TikTok account where they recorded their adventures together.
Their mum appears in one video, and performs a dance routine with Gretl, who graduated from St Hilda’s Anglican School for Girls in 2022, and had just passed her driving test at the end of 2023.
Gretl was studying at the University of Western Australia, and also played for the university’s waterpolo team.
Gretl with her UWA waterpolo team. Credit: Facebook
Neighbours described Jennifer as a “very altrustic and kind natured” person.
Mark Bombara.Credit: 9 News Perth
“She was always looking after people in the street, their dogs and loved her children very much,” they said.
The family had lived in their five-bedroom, $2 million Floreat home for more than 20 years.
Neighbours told 9 News Perth they saw Bombara driving up and down the usually quiet street multiple times on Friday afternoon before he entered the home.
On Saturday police spent several hours at his Mosman Park property, seizing multiple firearms.
He was licensed to own the guns used in the murderous rampage, despite being known to police for non-violence related issues.
It is understood Bombara had suffered a stroke in January and another earlier this month, shortly after he and his wife separated.
Neighbours reported having seen police attend the residence on Easter Monday, escorting his ex-wife as she returned to the home to collect her belongings.
Detective Inspector David Gorton described the incident as “distressing” on Saturday.
“Any death is tragic. However, when you get a multiple murder it has a greater impact,” he said.
The surviving daughter and the gunman’s ex-wife are now being looked after by police.
Jenny Petelczyc with her husband Jon, who passed away in 2019.Credit: Facebook
Family and friends of the Petelczyc’s have begun laying tributes to the mother and daughter outside their home as the community grapples to come to terms with the awful crime.
If you are experiencing mental health issues, contact LifeLine WA on 13 11 14, the Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467, or the MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978.