WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that this story contains references to people who have died.

A disturbing new theory has emerged about the possible motive behind an alleged triple murder that has shocked central west New South Wales, as the manhunt for accused killer Julian Ingram enters another critical phase.

Police allege Ingram carried out a brazen and brutal shooting spree in the small town of Lake Cargelligo on January 22, leaving three people dead, one teenager seriously injured, and an entire community traumatised.

According to investigators, Ingram allegedly shot and killed his heavily pregnant ex-partner, Sophie Quinn, 25, and her friend John Harris, 32, while they were sitting in the back seat of Quinn’s black Suzuki Swift on Bokhara Street. Emergency services were called to the scene, but both victims died from their injuries.

Just minutes later, police allege Ingram drove to Walker Street, where he allegedly opened fire again — this time killing Nerida Quinn, 50, Sophie’s aunty, in the driveway of a nearby home. The second attack sent shockwaves through the tight-knit community, with residents describing scenes of chaos and fear.

A friend of Nerida Quinn’s son, 19-year-old Kaleb Macqueen, was also shot during the alleged attack and sustained serious injuries. He was rushed to hospital, where he later provided a chilling account to police.

Macqueen has alleged that Ingram was laughing as he fired the shots — a claim that has deeply unsettled investigators and locals alike, painting a haunting picture of the accused man’s alleged mindset during the violence.

As detectives continue piecing together the events of that day, a new theory about Ingram’s possible motive has begun circulating within the community. Locals believe Ingram had recently discovered he was not the biological father of Sophie Quinn’s unborn child, and that the revelation may have triggered the alleged killing spree.

While police have not publicly confirmed the theory, the possibility is being examined as part of the broader investigation into Ingram’s movements, state of mind, and relationship history leading up to the shootings.

Ingram has been on the run since the alleged murders, sparking one of the largest manhunts the region has seen in years. Police say the search remains focused on remote rural terrain near Mount Hope, approximately an hour northwest of Lake Cargelligo.

The operation has involved dozens of officers, specialist police units, and aerial surveillance, with authorities battling extreme heat and challenging conditions in the vast outback landscape. Despite the difficulties, police have stressed that the operation will not be scaled back and that every available resource remains committed to locating the accused man.

“This is a large-scale search, and it remains ongoing,” police said in a statement. “Our priority is the safety of the community.”

Overnight, police released new images of the ute they believe Ingram used to flee Lake Cargelligo following the shootings. Authorities say the photos are the clearest images yet of the suspected getaway vehicle and are expected to play a crucial role in the next stage of the investigation.

Investigators are urging anyone who may have seen the vehicle, noticed suspicious activity, or has information about Ingram’s whereabouts to contact police immediately, warning that he may still be armed and dangerous.

As the manhunt continues, Lake Cargelligo remains gripped by grief and fear. Flowers have appeared at shooting sites, and residents are struggling to comprehend how such violence could erupt in their quiet town.

For now, families are mourning lives lost, police are racing against time, and a community waits anxiously for answers — and for the search for Julian Ingram to finally come to an end.