A neighbor recalls meeting a tradie several times and claiming he looked “nice” before allegedly shooting dead a woman outside her home.
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, on Wednesday afternoon.
Cole is also accused of shooting Good Samaritan James Trevor McGill, 66, who came to Ms Frahm’s aid after an alarm was raised by two teenagers who were in her car at the time.
Mr McGill, who was on the street visiting his elderly mother, was reportedly shot in the chest before being rushed to hospital in a serious but stable condition.
The local Denise Home was visiting her boyfriend, Mr McGill, and his mother at the time.
Natalie Frahm, 34, (pictured) has been identified as the alleged victim of the brutal shooting
Denise Home (pictured) was visiting her boyfriend McGill and his mother and described her previous encounters with Cole and said he seemed ‘nice’
Ryan Geoffrey Cole (photo) is said to have had a shooting on Wednesday – his 31st birthday
She told me Courier mail she had met Cole several times.
“I met (Cole) a few times, he always seemed nice,” she said.
Mrs Home recalled the terrifying moment the two teenagers ran to the house and screamed for help, with one of them shouting that someone had been killed.
She said one of the teens called police while she called 911, when more shots rang out.
These were reportedly the shots that injured her boyfriend, Mr. McGill.
Ms Home said it took a long time for paramedics to arrive as the area was still closed off.
Another neighbor, who wished to remain anonymous, also recalled meeting Cole and said he “seemed damn normal.”
She said when she first heard the gunshots she thought they were coming from the Mackay Agricultural Show.
The close-knit Mackay community has been rocked by the tragic death of young woman Natalie Frahm (pictured)
The incident forced police to seal off the area while they searched for the alleged shooter (photo, exclusion zone)
Neighbors on the quiet cul-de-sac spoke of their disbelief, how they can’t sleep after the tragic shooting and are desperate for answers.
“I need to know what happened because it could have happened to anyone on the street,” one woman said.
“It would give us some peace of mind if we knew the whole story.”
Another neighbor said she was shocked by the series of events and said she regularly saw Cole on the street.
“He seemed nice,” she said.
‘He’s been living there for a while. He seemed like a good style of man. He always drove by and smiled. I saw him working on his boat or with his carpenter’s cart.
Cole was arrested outside a gas station on Bruce Highway near Hilton Street, about 1.2 miles away, around 7:45 p.m.
It is understood that Cole and Mrs Frahm did not know each other but lived on the same street.
Daily Mail Australia understands the South Mackay property where Cole lived is owned by his mother, but it is unclear whether she also lived at the property.
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 went into a massive emergency lockdown amid the alleged shootings.
Detective Acting Chief Inspector Emma Novosel said Cole was known to police and there was no clear motive for the alleged shootings.
Mackay Mayor Greg Williamson said it would take a long time for the “beautiful little community” to come to terms with the alleged shooting.
A heartbroken friend paid tribute to Natalie Frahm (pictured) online, describing her as a ‘beautiful angel’
“As a community, we must try to work together to ensure that everyone who needs help gets it [it] … How could this happen in Mackay?” he said.
His firearms license was revoked three years ago.
An investigation is underway into how he obtained a firearm.
“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 could have come into possession of this illegal firearm… but we need to let the police do that work.”
“I don’t think there’s a single person in Queensland whose heart doesn’t break for Natalie and her family and friends.”
Cole appeared in the Mackay Magistrates Court on Thursday morning 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.