Major homicide investigation surrounds burnt car with three dead
Police are investigating how a car burst into flames in Perth and claimed the lives of two children and their mother inside the vehicle.
The remains of the three bodies were discovered at the devastating scene at John Graham Reserve at Coogee in the city’s south at just before noon on Monday.
Emergency services attended the scene to extinguish the flames after reports were called in of a red hatchback on fire.
Witness Lincoln Morton said he heard what sounded like gunshots at the popular family meeting spot.
“I was coming back from the beach and I heard what sounded like a couple of gunshots,” he told The West Australian.
“When I was coming back from the beach that’s when I heard the first couple. I got to my car and I heard a couple more."
“Then I saw the heat and embers from the fire on the other side of the bush.”
More than a dozen police officers were on the scene overnight as they worked to discover how the tragedy unfolded.
Detective Senior Sergeant Cameron Blaine, who led the rescue effort for Cleo Smith, is among those investigating the incident.
Authorities are believed to be in the process of identifying the bodies and notifying family members.
Detectives will explore whether the tragedy was a murder suicide, if a third party was involved, or if it could have been a tragic accident.
They are expected to remain at the scene for several days.
Image credits: 9News footage