A shocked Queensland community has rallied around two girls after a woman was allegedly shot dead in front of them in her car by a neighbour.
Tributes have poured in for Natalie Frahm after the 34-year-old was killed in the driveway of her Mackay home on Wednesday afternoon.
Frahm was in the car preparing to leave for a sporting activity when she was allegedly shot by Ryan Geoffrey Cole, with the girls in the back seat.
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Cole, 31, is also accused of shooting a good Samaritan after the girls — aged 11 and 12 — escaped the vehicle and raised the alarm.
James McGill, 66, was visiting his elderly mother who lived nearby when he came to Frahm’s aid after the girls asked for help.
He suffered hand and chest injuries after allegedly being shot by Cole, but is in a stable condition in hospital following surgery.
Cole was a neighbour but did not know Frahm, police said, and a motive for the alleged attacks is yet to be established.
“We’re working really hard to look into the background of Mr Cole … To find out what his movements were prior to the incident and afterwards so we can establish what may have been a contributing factor,” Detective Acting Superintendent Emma Novosel said on Friday.
“As you can imagine, this is a complex investigation. We’re going to be really methodical about how we go trying to determine what the cause was.”
A revolver-style gun believed to have been allegedly used by Cole to murder Frahm has not been found, Novosel said.
Nicholas Vanderzee, the owner of Mang Gon Thai Boxing and a friend of Frahm, said Frahm never mentioned her neighbour and alleged killer Cole.
Vanderzee said Frahm was a dedicated and beloved member of the club who started in the sport almost two years ago when her son joined.
“She used to come and drop him off and she would watch. She quite liked what she saw,” he told 7NEWS.
“We encourage parents to jump in and start training. There’s nothing better than a parent training with heir children.
“She started and absolutely fell in love with Muay Thai … Loved the training, loved to get pushed, she what she was capable of doing.”
Vanderzee said he was “lost for words” when he was told of Frahm’s “gut-wrenching” death.
“She was a beautiful person. Absolutely beautiful person. She had the beautiful smile and was just such a pleasant being,” he said.
“She’s going to be sadly missed.”
The club also set up a GoFundMe fundraiser for the girls, with more than $9000 already pledged on Friday.
Mackay Mayor Greg Williamson said the community is “reeling” at the “random, outrageous act of violence”.
Frahm’s parents have flown in from Mount Isa, with floral tributes starting to arrive outside her South Mackay home.
Support has been provided to the two girls as the South Mackay community also tries to process the incident.
“The two young girls who were in the back of the car and ran off to get help are going to live with this for the rest of their lives,” Williamson said.
“It’s going to be a grieving process which will take a fair while to work out … but over the next few days the community will rally.”
The mayor hailed the bravery of the girls as well as McGill who approached the alleged gunman after answering their calls for help.
“How good was that? It’s a typical Australian reaction, I think — you go in and help,” he said.
Cole is accused of shooting Frahm and McGill before driving away, sparking an emergency lockdown and police manhunt.
He was later arrested at a nearby service station and was charged with murder and attempted murder on Thursday.
Police are investigating how Cole allegedly gained access to a firearm after having a weapons licence revoked three years ago.
“I don’t think there’s a single person in Queensland whose heart doesn’t break for Natalie and her family and friends,” Queensland Police Minister Mark Ryan said.
“It’ll always be impossible to rationalise the decision-making of a monster.
“This person had firearms illegally. His weapons licence had been cancelled. Police had taken those weapons off him.
“Part of the investigation will look at how he might’ve come into possession of this illegal firearm … but that work, we’ve got to allow police to do.”
Cole was remanded in custody as his matter was mentioned in Mackay Magistrates Court on Friday, to be next heard in July.