Family of cop killed in Wieambilla shooting share heartbreaking message a year on from the tragedy that stopped Australia
The family of a police officer murdered on a Queensland estate a year ago have shared a heartbreaking message for their “beautiful” and “kind” son.
Police officers Rachel McCrow and Matthew Arnold, as well as neighbor Alan Dare, were all shot and killed by Stacey, Gareth and Nathaniel Train at their Wieambilla estate on December 12, 2022.
Two other officers, Keely Brough and Randall Kirk, were injured while all three trains were killed in a shootout with police later that evening.
Officer Arnold's family shared a heartbreaking post about the 26-year-old a year after he was killed, describing his death as 'unfathomable'.
Officer Matthew Arnold (pictured) was killed during a deadly shootout in a rural Queensland estate last year
The two officers went to the property (pictured) to conduct a welfare check before being confronted with gunfire
“A day when incomprehensible evil killed our beautiful son and brother for simply doing his job,” the family said in a statement.
'It's so cruel and unfair that we never got to say goodbye. We miss Matt's smile, kindness, empathy and willingness to help.
“These qualities made him such an excellent police officer and made him love his job.”
Officers Arnold and McCrow, along with two other police officers, had gone to the property to conduct a welfare check on Nathaniel.
The officers were ambushed by Nathaniel's wife Stacey and his brother Gareth, who opened fire as the two officers were executed at close range.
Mr Dare was murdered when he went to see what was happening on the property next to his.
A mass shooting began before a heavily armed special forces unit shot dead Gareth, Nathaniel and Stacey later that evening.
Nathaniel was the former head teacher of Walgett Primary School in the greater west of NSW, and Yorkeys Knob State school in Far North Queensland.
He had not been seen by loved ones for more than a year and is believed to have been living in northern NSW before heading to Wieambilla to join his brother Gareth.
Officer Rachel McCrow (pictured left) was one of three victims of the incident
Good Samaritan neighbor Alan Dare (pictured) was also murdered after going to the Trains' property to investigate
Reports obtained by Ny Breaking Australia revealed that Gareth was extremely active online in the comments sections of fringe news websites and regularly shared outlandish theories about major world events.
Last week, officers from Queensland Police traveled to the US to arrest 58-year-old man Donald Day in Arizona.
Police allege Day is connected to a video the Trains posted the night they were killed.
The breakthrough comes after investigators from Queensland Police Ethics Standards and Security and Counter Terrorism Command recently traveled to the US.
“We've had personal contact with the FBI, we've turned over material that was of interest to them,” Deputy Police Commissioner Tracy Linford told reporters earlier this year.
A pre-inquest coronial hearing held in June heard that an investigation had been carried out into the Trains' online activities to 'identify possible associates who may have influenced their actions'.
Queensland Police said the families of the slain officers and Mr Dare, along with the coroner, have been informed of the latest developments.
An investigation into the shooting will begin in 2024.
FBI agents arrested Arizona-based conspiracy theorist Don Day, 58, in connection with the shooting last December