Coroner Delivers Verdict on Deadly Wieambilla Police Ambush
After nearly three years of investigation, a Queensland coroner has released crucial findings into the devastating Wieambilla shootings that shocked the nation. The tragic incident on December 12, 2022 claimed the lives of two young police officers and an innocent neighbour in a remote property west of Brisbane.
The Deadly Ambush That Rocked Australia
Constables Matthew Joseph Arnold, 26, and Rachel Clare McCrow, 29 were conducting a routine welfare check on a missing person when they walked into a carefully planned sniper ambush. The two officers were shot and wounded before being executed at close range within just ten minutes of arriving at the property.
Their neighbour, 58-year-old Alan Dare, became the third victim when he approached the property to investigate loud bangs and smoke. The smoke had been deliberately created by the perpetrators - brothers Nathaniel Train, 46, and Gareth Train, 47 - who were attempting to flush out another officer, Constable Keely Brough, who managed to hide for several hours while being hunted.
A fourth officer, Constable Randall Kirk, escaped the property but sustained multiple gunshot wounds as he ran to his police vehicle for safety.
Five-Week Inquest Reveals Disturbing Details
State Coroner Terry Ryan presided over an extensive five-week inquest from July 29 to August 29, 2024, hearing testimony from 52 witnesses at the Brisbane Coroners Court. The proceedings revealed that the Train brothers, along with Gareth's wife Stacey Train, 45, continued their shooting rampage even after police backup arrived, firing at a police helicopter and specialist officers.
All three perpetrators were killed later that night following a prolonged siege. Forensic psychiatrists testified that the Trains likely suffered from a "shared psychotic disorder" with Gareth as the primary influence, driven by extreme religious beliefs and conspiracy theories.
Coroner Ryan acknowledged that while the Trains wrongly believed "they were being attacked and were required to defend themselves against that attack," he determined the incident could not be classified as a terrorist act under the legal definition.
Systemic Failures and Critical Recommendations
The inquest uncovered concerning details about events leading to the tragedy. Nathaniel Train had illegally crossed into Queensland from New South Wales nearly twelve months earlier during COVID-19 border restrictions, bringing with him a cache of firearms.
An associate of Nathaniel's provided evidence about filing a missing person's report on December 5, 2022, which was treated as high-risk because Train had stopped taking heart medication. The associate described accessing Nathaniel's email account and seeing "incredibly disturbing" messages from Gareth threatening "graphic" consequences for continuing to report his brother missing.
Following the comprehensive investigation, Coroner Ryan handed down 10 recommendations aimed at preventing similar tragedies in the future, though the specific details of these recommendations were not immediately disclosed in the initial findings release.
The Wieambilla coroner's findings mark a significant step toward closure for the families of the victims and the broader Queensland community, while highlighting critical lessons for police welfare checks and mental health interventions.
