Police in Western Australia are conducting an ongoing search for Kenneth John Giles, 58, following a shooting incident on a rural property near Mullewa on Wednesday afternoon. A woman known to him sustained non-life-threatening injuries and has received medical treatment. Authorities have deployed significant resources and have advised the public not to approach Mr. Giles if sighted.
Incident Details
The incident occurred on Wednesday afternoon, approximately 5:20 PM, at a rural property located on Urawa Road, about 20 to 24 kilometers north of Mullewa. Mullewa is a small rural community situated approximately 450 kilometers north of Perth. An altercation between Mr. Giles and a woman known to him resulted in a shot being fired, with reports indicating multiple shots were fired. The woman sustained a gunshot wound to her hand. She was initially transported to Geraldton Hospital and subsequently transferred to Royal Perth Hospital by the Royal Flying Doctor Service, where she is reported to be in stable condition and is cooperating with detectives. Police have classified the incident as a family and domestic violence matter.
Mr. Giles is alleged to have fled the scene with a firearm. Authorities have confirmed he is not a licensed firearms holder. As part of the ongoing investigation, 16 to 17 firearms have been seized from the property where the shooting occurred and from multiple properties in the area; none of these firearms belonged to Mr. Giles. Multiple other individuals who were present at the property during the incident are being interviewed by police.
Police Response and Search Operation
Western Australian Police initiated a search operation for Mr. Giles immediately following the incident. Significant resources have been deployed, including officers from the Tactical Response Group, the police air wing, detectives, and general duties police officers from both the metropolitan area and Geraldton. A command post was initially established at the Mullewa Police Station and later relocated to Geraldton.
The search area encompasses the vast Midwest Gascoyne district, which spans approximately 389,000 square kilometers, and includes the Urawa Nature Reserve, covering about 11,300 hectares. Search activities involve ground patrols actively searching tracks within the bushland and aerial observation by air wing units. Authorities have noted that the search area contains various structures, including shacks and disused mines, and operations are expanding outwards from the identified incident site.
Several police officials, including Inspector Tom Mickelwright, Superintendent Neil Vanderplank, and Acting Superintendent Ben Huggett, have publicly appealed to Mr. Giles to surrender to police. These appeals have emphasized the priority of ensuring the safety of Mr. Giles and the wider community, aiming for a safe and peaceful resolution to the incident. The search operation has been ongoing for multiple days.
Suspect Information and Public Advisory
Kenneth John Giles is described as being 173cm tall, of medium build, with brown hair and brown eyes. Police believe he is driving a white Nissan Patrol ute with the registration 1BIY 336. Authorities have advised the public not to approach Mr. Giles if he or his vehicle are sighted and to contact Triple Zero (000) immediately.
Police believe Mr. Giles is a skilled bushman capable of hunting and surviving in the bush and may be "laying quite low" to evade apprehension by utilizing his knowledge of the land. He is thought to remain within the Midwest Gascoyne district, although investigations are also exploring potential movements elsewhere within Western Australia or interstate. Search and rescue experts have highlighted challenges, including the vastness of the search area, a potential two-hour head start for Mr. Giles, and the commonality of his vehicle, which may be avoiding major roads or disguised.