A firearm has been seized after a tradie allegedly shot dead a woman outside her home and injured a good Samaritan who had tried to help.
Ryan Geoffrey Cole, 31, allegedly shot his neighbor Natalie Jane Frahm, 34, in the head and chest as she pulled up in her car outside her Robb Place home in South Mackay, Queensland, last Wednesday afternoon.
He is also accused of shooting James Trevor McGill, 66, who rushed to Ms Frahm’s aid after two teenagers in her car at the time raised the alarm.
Investigators searched Cole’s home on the same street and removed a number of items, including three weapons that will be forensically tested.
Detective Acting Chief Inspector Emma Novosel said police believe a .22 caliber pistol was used during the alleged attack.
Police believe they have recovered a .22 caliber pistol allegedly used in the shooting of Natalie Jane Frahm (pictured) outside her South Mackay home on Wednesday
According to Supt Novosel, police also discovered a “homemade, inoperable longarm rifle and an air rifle” in the home. Courier mail.
Police have relied on conversations with Mr McGill, eyewitnesses and forensic experts to rule out the two guns as the alleged murder weapon.
It is now believed that all of Cole’s firearms have been seized, but questions remain about how he obtained the weapons, despite having his firearms license revoked in 2021.
“This person had firearms illegally. His firearms license was revoked. The police took those weapons away from him,” Queensland Police Minister Mark Ryan said.
“Part of the investigation will look at how he came into possession of this illegal firearm… but we need to let the police do that work.”
Supt Novosel said none of the weapons found at Cole’s home were “currently previously unregistered”.
“Investigations are underway to determine the origin of the gun,” she said.
Supt Novosel could not comment on whether checks had been carried out on Cole after his driving license was revoked.
Daily Mail Australia understands the property where Cole lived is owned by his mother, but it is unclear whether she also lived in the property.
Ryan Geoffrey Cole (pictured) is accused of shooting Ms Frahm in the head and chest before shooting Good Samaritan James Trevor McGill, 66, in the chest
Police reportedly found the pistol and two other rifles at Cole’s home, despite his firearms license being revoked in 2021 (photo, police on scene)
Ms Frahm moved to Mackay several years ago from her hometown of Mount Isa, 1,230km west in outback Queensland.
A heartbroken friend paid tribute to the woman online, describing her as a ‘beautiful angel’.
The tragedy has rocked the quiet seaside suburb, which was put into a massive three-hour emergency lockdown as police searched for the suspected gunman.
Supt Novosel previously said Cole was known to police and there was no clear motive for the alleged shootings.
Police investigations also revealed that Cole and Ms Frahm did not know each other before the alleged attack.
He appeared in the Mackay Magistrates Court last Thursday via video link from the watchhouse charged with murder and attempted murder.
He appeared in court again on Friday morning and was remanded to September.