MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Three people were killed and another was wounded on Thursday in a shooting in a town in Australia's New South Wales state, police said.

Emergency services were called to an address at Lake Cargelligo, a town of around 1,500 people, following reports of shooting, a police statement said.

Three people — two women and a man — were dead, and another man was taken to hospital in serious but stable condition, police said.

The shooter or shooters appeared to be at large.

Police used geo-targeted text messages to urge the public to avoid the area and for local residents to stay inside and contacted.

The shooting comes on a National Day of Mourning as Australia remembers the 15 people shot dead in Sydney at a Hannukah celebration on Dec. 14.

Authorities say the two alleged Sydney gunmen were inspired by the Islamic State group to carry out Australia's worst mass shooting since 1996.

Keep Reading

Australia's Minister for Home Affairs, Tony Burke, presents the Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism bill during a parliament sitting in Canberra, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, in response to two shooters killing 15 people at a Jewish festival in Sydney last month. (Mick Tsikas/AAP Image via AP)

Credit: AP

Featured

A woman walks her dog in Piedmont Park on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, when temperatures were in the 20s and 30s. Another blast of extremely cold air is expected this weekend. (Abbey Cutrer/AJC)

Credit: abcutrer@gmail.com