Unlicensed handgun seized from suspected killer's home

Police found three guns at the home of a suspected shooter, including a handgun they say was used to fatally shoot a woman in front of two children.

Ryan Geoffrey Cole, 31, is accused of killing his neighbor, Natalie Frahm, as she sat in a car with two children in the driveway of her home in Mackay, north Queensland, on June 19 .

Cole was arrested by police after a manhunt in the regional town.

Police are investigating how Cole allegedly obtained the guns after his weapons license was revoked three years ago.

Acting Detective Superintendent Emma Novosel said investigators recovered an inoperable homemade longarm rifle, an air rifle and a 22 caliber pistol.

She said preliminary forensic and ballistics advice led police to believe the gun was the firearm believed to have been used to kill Ms Frahm and seriously injure James McGill.

Mr McGill, aged 66, was allegedly shot dead by Cole as he came to Ms Frahm's aid after the two girls, aged 11 and 12, escaped from the car.

He suffered injuries to his hands and chest as a result.

“None of the weapons found at this residence are currently or have been previously registered,” Superintendent Novosel said of the recovered firearms.

“Investigations are ongoing into the origin of the gun and how it came into the possession of the accused.”

Tributes have poured in for Ms Frahm, with a GoFundMe fundraiser also organized for the two girls.

The fundraiser had raised more than $23,000 as of Monday.

Following the Mackay shooting, the Queensland government called on MPs to support a bill that would allow police to search “high-risk” individuals for illegal weapons without a warrant.

The bill was introduced in May and is expected to be debated later this year to combat a 30 percent increase in gun offenses over the past decade, with more than 3,000 in 2023.

Cole was taken into custody after being charged with the murder of Ms Frahm and the attempted murder of Mr McGill.