Wieambilla shooting: Police form guard of honour neighbour Alan Dare’s body is driven away

By William On Dec 13, 2022

A moving video shows the moment police officers hold an honor guard for an innocent neighbor who was shot dead by conspiracy theorists when he went to check on the gunshots at a nearby property.

Alan Dare, 58, has been remembered as a loving husband, father and grandfather after he was shot in the back and killed in a mass shooting alongside two police officers in Wieambilla, rural Queensland, on Monday.

Four police officers were looking for Nathaniel Train, an experienced school principal, who was last seen a year ago when they walked into an ambush; two of them, Matthew Arnold, 26, and Rachel McCrow, 29, died.

Mr. Dare heard a commotion on the neighboring property and went to investigate in a decision that cost him his life.

Tragically, Mr. Dare and his wife Kerry would have celebrated their 26th wedding anniversary on Wednesday.

Alan Dare was shot to death on a neighbor’s property on Monday, just two days before his 26th wedding anniversary with wife Kerry.

Video obtained by Daily Mail Australia shows police officers forming an honor guard at the property as Mr Dare’s body was driven away between a convoy of police vans.

His granddaughter Renee described him as an “honor guard for Poppy” noting that she was “always and forever in our hearts”. The video was inundated with tributes from bereaved family and friends.

‘Al was like a father to me. He will be sorely missed RIP to one of the best men I have ever been lucky enough to meet in my entire life,’ one woman commented.

Just two days ago, Dare’s widow, Kerry, shared an emotional post on Facebook about their love story.

Ms. Dare shared candid details about the dates that occurred after they first met in 1981, their proper relationship that began in 1994, their engagement in 1995, and saying “I do” on December 14, 1996.

‘Still together. Always’, Ms. Dare finished the post.

Police officers formed an honor guard as Alan Dare’s body was brought in in a convoy of police vans on Tuesday.

Alan Dare’s wife, Kerry, posted a series of dates about their relationship two days before he was shot dead on a neighbor’s property.

Alan Dare (pictured) was “just doing the right thing” and controlling a fire and the sound of gunshots at his neighbor’s house.

Local Brett Hovey has launched a online fundraising to raise funds for his partner’s funeral.

‘I’m trying to raise money for our friend who was tragically kidnapped. I am trying to raise funds to give his widow the farewell service she deserves,” Hovey wrote.

‘Al was assisting police on a property when he and two police officers were shot. I hope we can raise as much money as possible to help Al’s widow, Kerry, through this difficult and painful time.’

‘Al would have helped anyone. The date of the farewell service is yet to be set and will be communicated to you.’

The page quickly raised over $4,000 in a few hours.

‘From one land owner to another, controlling a neighbor should never end like this! Condolences to the wife,” posted one donor.

The Queensland Police Service Union has also set up a remembrance fund for the families of the two officers killed.

Mr. Dare lived on a 114-acre block next door with his wife saw the smoke and heard gunshots Monday afternoon.

The Train family next door had begun burning the bushes to drive out police officer Keely Brough, who was hiding from the killers.

Meanwhile, a growing crowd of devastated locals have gathered outside the Tara police station, where slain officers Arnold and McCrow were stationed.

The perimeter fence and nearby bench have been awash with tributes, including dozens of bouquets and handwritten messages.

‘Precious angels fly high,’ read one card.

Officers Rachel McCrow, 29 (left) and Matthew Arnold, 26, (right) were parked at the Tara police station

Queensland Police Commissioner Katrina Carroll told reporters on Tuesday that Dare “didn’t stand a chance” when he turned up.

Officers remain on the property Tuesday morning with bags of evidence to be examined.

Queensland Police Union president Ian Leaver previously said: “This ruthless and murderous trio showed absolutely no compassion.

‘[Mr Dare] I was doing the right thing to investigate and help someone.’

Just hours earlier, Mr Dare’s stepson Corey Richards wrote in a social media post that his stepfather’s dead body was left “dumped in the middle of the road”.

A family friend replied: ‘I’m so sorry for your loss, a beautiful innocent man who shot a good neighbor… why?

‘This is so so… I just don’t have words. If there is anything we can do.

Another said: “So sorry to hear mate, this should never have happened.”

Police went to a neighboring property looking for Nathaniel Train, an experienced school principal, who was last seen a year ago.

Matthew Arnold, 26, and Rachel McCrow, 29, were fatally shot in a hail of bullets. A third officer, Randall Kirk, was shot in the leg and managed to escape.

Her colleague Keely Brough fled into the bush as unmarked gunmen built a fire and tried to smoke her out.

She was later rescued by a specialized police tactical team of 16 officers who had rushed to the scene.

Locals reported sporadic gunfire overnight before a climactic shootout with Special Emergency Response Team police around 11:30pm that left three people, reportedly two men and one woman, dead.

The two men were Nathaniel Train and his brother Gareth, along with Gareth’s wife, Stacey.

Gareth and his wife have resided at the property since 2015.

Officers responded to a request from their NSW counterparts regarding the whereabouts of Nathaniel, last seen in Dubbo a year ago.

Nathaniel was believed to have lived in the regional north of New South Wales before traveling to Wieambilla to join his brother.

Nathaniel had a record of at least two traffic offenses in Queensland and NSW.

He was also head of school at Yorkeys Knob State School in Cairns, in far north Queensland, and most recently at Walgett Primary School in northern New South Wales.

Police had attended the Queensland property as part of inquiries into missing man Nathaniel Train (pictured), last seen in Dubbo in west-central New South Wales a year ago.

HOW THE TRAGEDY DEVELOPED

Monday 16:30: Four officers attended a property on Wains Road in Wieambilla as part of inquiries into a missing school principal Nathaniel Train, 46, last seen in Dubbo in west central New South Wales a year ago.

16:30-17:00: Two armed men dressed in camouflage, Nathaniel Train and his brother Gareth, opened fire as the police approached the house.

Officer Matthew Arnold, 26, and his colleague Rachel McCrow, 29, were shot at close range and fell to the ground. The gunmen stood over the wounded officers and shot them to death before reaching for their Glock pistols. Neighbor Alan Dare, 58, was also shot dead.

after 5 p.m.: A third officer, Agent Randall Kirk, who was shot in the leg but managed to escape, is taken to the local hospital. His colleague, the rookie cop, Constable Keely Brough, fled into the surrounding bushland and is later rescued by a specialized police tactical team.

18:00: Police declare an emergency declaration zone covering the area between Chinchilla Tara Rd, Wieambilla Rd, Bennetts School Rd and Mary Street.

after 18:00: Locals reported sporadic gunshots throughout the night.

10:30 p.m.: Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll pays tribute to slain officers at emotional press conference

23:30: Nathaniel Train and his brother Gareth, along with the brother’s wife, Stacey, are shot dead after a shootout with Special Emergency Response Team police.

Tuesday in the morning: A convoy of police vehicles accompanying the bodies of the two dead police officers being transported in vans left the crime scene en route to the Brisbane coroner’s morgue on Tuesday morning.

The remains of officers Rachel McCrow and Matthew Arnold are expected to arrive late this morning at the John Tonge center in Coopers Plains, west of Brisbane, where post-mortems will be carried out.