Floreat shooting: WA mother and daughter slain by man hunting ex-wife in horrific Perth double murder-suicide

A grieving widow and her daughter have emerged as the victims of a shooting in Perth, caught up in someone else’s marriage breakdown that culminated in a murderous rampage.

Sources close to Jennifer Petelczyc were shocked to learn of the 59-year-old’s death about 4.30pm on Friday after her close friend’s ex-partner showed up at her Floreat home.

Police confirmed on Saturday 63-year-old Mark Bombara was looking for his former wife at the Petelczycs’ home on Berkeley Crescent and had arrived about 10 minutes earlier.

It is understood when Bombara couldn’t find his ex-partner, he cable-tied Jennifer and her teenage daughter Gretl before making several threatening phone calls.

He then shot everyone in the house — including himself — the shots ringing out through the usually quiet street as police arrived, responding to a call from a concerned family member.

Jennifer Petelczyc died at the scene, and 18-year-old Gretl was critically injured.

She was given emergency treatment by paramedics before being taken to Royal Perth Hospital, where she remained in a critical condition on Friday night.

But on Saturday morning, police confirmed she had also died.

At a press conference on Saturday afternoon, Det-Insp. David Gorton of the major crime division would not be drawn on when Bombara’s relationship with his wife had ended.

But The Sunday Times understands she left him a few weeks ago and she had been staying with the Petelczyc family — including older daughter Liesl, who was not home at the time of the killings.

It is also understood Ms Petelczyc lost her husband Jon to cancer in 2019 and was still grieving deeply.

A close friend of Gretl’s, who did not want to be named, told The Sunday Times she and Gretl “got along like a house on fire”.

“(Gretl) was outgoing, bubbly, confident ... I wish I was more like her in every single way,” the young woman said.

She recalled Gretl’s warm nature, especially when she was nervous.

“I remember I was feeling really anxious about going to the ball but she made me laugh the whole night and made me feel so much more comfortable and made me enjoy it,” she said.

“It’s something I’ll always remember.

“There were so many fond memories with her that I’m never going to ever forget.

“I just remember how welcoming her and Jenny were.

“They were just great people and they had to deal with things like Jon getting cancer ... they were so resilient.”

Gretl played water polo, winning the title of best and fairest in her team in 2021-22, while her mother was involved with the UWA Water Polo Club, managing the Sapphires team in 2023.

She was also secretary of the City Beach Basketball Club in 2016 and 2017.

Jon and Jennifer were regular donors to St Hilda’s Anglican School for Girls, where their daughters went.

City of Cambridge council meeting minutes show they were both actively involved in their community.

Neighbours reacted with shock and disbelief at the horror that so rapidly unfolded on this idyllic, leafy street.

As the grim reality sank in while forensics officers and detectives continued to stream in and out of the property, they spoke of their surprise at hearing gunshots.

Det-Insp. Gorton said while the killer was known to police, he did not appear to have a history of violence and was not being monitored.

“We’re not treating this as a family violence matter,” the detective said.

“We’ll still be preparing a report for the Coroner in relation to all of the circumstances surrounding this and whether or not the relationships formed part of this incident.”

He said the firearm was licensed, and would not be drawn on whether Bombara was subject to any restraining order.

The Sunday Times believes Bombara had an extensive collection of firearms.

Police were seen removing several guns from his Mosman Park home — which has an estimated value of more than $4.5 million — on Saturday.

Det-Insp. Gorton also confirmed Jennifer and the killer’s ex-partner were “good friends”, and she either knew or had previously met Bombara.

He did not reveal which family member raised the alarm, saying police were “still reviewing those particular calls and how they came to know what was going on at the house”.

He said the killer’s ex-partner was highly distraught.

“We had the ex-wife and one of the daughters in our care at homicide squad last night,” Det-Insp. Gorton said.

“We are providing any support we can to them.

“Obviously, they’re very distressed by the circumstances, and WA police will make the appropriate referrals to them for counselling.”

The detective said evidence had been collected and ballistics experts were still determining how many shots had been fired.

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