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Inquest Begins Into Fatal Floreat Shooting in Perth

Fresh details have emerged about the fatal shooting that claimed the lives of Jennifer Petelczyc and her 18-year-old daughter, Gretl, in Floreat, a suburb of Perth, Western Australia.

A coronial inquest into the May 2024 killings began on Monday, November 9, 2026, examining the circumstances surrounding the deaths and the events leading up to the shooting. The proceedings are expected to investigate the medical care received by the gunman, Mark James Bombara, before the incident, alongside questions about police responses and the handling of family violence concerns.

The case shocked the Perth community and prompted significant scrutiny of Western Australia’s firearms regulations, police procedures and systems for responding to domestic and family violence.

What Happened in the Floreat Shooting?

The shooting occurred on May 24, 2024, at a home on Berkeley Crescent in Floreat.

Mark James Bombara, then 63, went to the property searching for his estranged wife, who he believed was staying there. Instead, he encountered Jennifer Petelczyc, 59, and her daughter Gretl, 18.

Bombara shot both women before turning the firearm on himself. He died at the scene, while Jennifer and Gretl later died from their injuries.

Police and emergency services attended the property, and the incident was declared contained, with no continuing threat to the wider public.

Investigators subsequently established that the killings were connected to Bombara’s efforts to locate his estranged wife.

Court Hears Emergency Calls Made Before the Shooting

One of the most significant developments from the November 9 inquest was the playing of emergency calls made by Gretl before she was fatally shot.

The court heard that Gretl contacted emergency services after a man entered the family home with a firearm.

During the first call, she told the operator that an armed man was inside the property. The call was disconnected, and counsel assisting the coroner said the Police Assistance Centre did not call her back or immediately dispatch officers, despite the circumstances described.

A second emergency call was also played during the proceedings. Gretl again warned that a man with a gun was inside the house.

The inquest heard that her mother had also contacted a friend during the incident, while another family member made an emergency call seeking police assistance.

The evidence has placed renewed attention on the handling of the emergency calls and the time taken for police to reach the property.

Police Response and Questions About Missed Warnings

The inquest is also examining whether earlier warnings about Bombara’s behaviour and potential risk were adequately addressed.

In the weeks before the killings, Bombara’s estranged wife and daughter had reportedly raised concerns with police about his behaviour and the danger they believed he posed.

The family had left the home because of safety concerns. Police were also reportedly informed that one of Bombara’s firearms was missing.

An internal Victoria Police-style review is not involved here; rather, a Western Australia Police internal investigation published in January 2025 found that eight officers had failed to perform their duties appropriately in the lead-up to the murders.

The investigation identified shortcomings in risk assessment and the handling of family and domestic violence concerns.

WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch acknowledged that officers had failed to use available powers appropriately. The review made 18 recommendations intended to improve police responses and prevent similar failures.

The findings intensified calls for better training, information sharing and accountability when people report threats involving firearms and family violence.

Inquest Examines Mark Bombara’s Medical Care

A major focus of the current coronial proceedings is the medical treatment Mark Bombara received before the shooting.

The court heard that Bombara had suffered two strokes in the months before the killings, resulting in an acquired brain injury.

His family described significant changes in his behaviour and raised concerns about his mental health before he was discharged from hospital in early May 2024.

Family members reportedly asked medical professionals for further assessment, expressing concerns about his condition and the changes they had observed.

The inquest is examining whether his medical care, assessments and discharge arrangements were appropriate.

The proceedings will consider whether shortcomings in the healthcare response contributed to the circumstances that preceded the killings. These questions remain matters for the coroner to examine; no final findings should be assumed before the inquest concludes.

Jennifer and Gretl Petelczyc Remembered

Jennifer Petelczyc and her daughter Gretl were remembered by family, friends and members of the Floreat community following their deaths.

Jennifer was 59, while Gretl was 18. Their deaths left relatives and friends grieving two lives lost in an act of violence that deeply affected the local community.

The pair had been at home when Bombara arrived looking for his estranged wife, who was a friend of Jennifer.

Their deaths also brought attention to the risks faced by people who support friends or relatives experiencing domestic and family violence.

Tributes following the shooting described the mother and daughter as loved members of their community. Their family has continued to seek answers about the events and institutional responses that preceded the tragedy.

Floreat Shooting and Changes to Western Australia’s Gun Laws

The killings prompted renewed debate about firearm ownership and the state’s response to domestic violence concerns.

Bombara legally owned 13 firearms, including handguns held under a collector’s licence.

Following the tragedy, Western Australia introduced major firearms reforms. The changes, which came into effect in March 2025, tightened licensing requirements, introduced limits on firearm ownership and strengthened provisions for removing firearms where family or domestic violence risks are identified.

The reforms were intended to reduce the possibility of firearms remaining accessible to people considered a risk to themselves or others.

The case also prompted scrutiny from the state’s Corruption and Crime Commission, which examined how Bombara had been able to retain his firearms licences despite concerns raised before the killings.

What Will the Floreat Inquest Examine Next?

The coronial inquest, which began on November 9, 2026, is expected to sit over five days.

Its examination includes:

• The medical treatment Bombara received before the shooting.

• The effects of his strokes and acquired brain injury.

• The mental health assessments conducted before his hospital discharge.

• The warnings and concerns raised by his family.

• The police response to reports involving family violence and firearms.

• The emergency calls made by Jennifer and Gretl.

• Whether changes to medical, police and risk-assessment procedures are needed.

The findings may help identify opportunities to improve the way hospitals and police respond to warning signs involving family violence and potential threats.

Floreat Shooting: Key Details

A Community Still Seeking Answers

The Floreat shooting remains one of the most disturbing incidents in Perth’s recent history. The deaths of Jennifer and Gretl Petelczyc raised difficult questions about the protection of people experiencing family violence and the responsibilities of institutions when warnings are reported.

The opening of the coronial inquest represents an important stage in examining those questions. Evidence presented in court may help clarify what happened before the shooting and whether different decisions or interventions could have prevented the deaths.

For the families affected, the proceedings are also an opportunity to have the circumstances surrounding Jennifer and Gretl’s deaths examined in greater detail.

May Jennifer and Gretl Petelczyc be remembered with dignity, and may their loved ones find strength as the inquest continues.

Disclaimer

This article is based on information reported about the May 2024 Floreat shooting and the coronial inquest that began on November 9, 2026. The inquest is ongoing, and its findings have not yet been finalised. Allegations of institutional failures and questions about medical treatment are matters being examined through the proceedings and should not be treated as final legal conclusions.

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