Fatal Kellerberrin shooting death of Terry Czernowski – Obituary
In the aftermath of a deadly workplace incident, a tense standoff concluded with a 25-year-old assailant turning the firearm upon himself. The individual who fell victim to the fatal shooting, carried out by a co-worker who subsequently took his own life, has now been identified.
This tragic event unfolded in Kellerberrin, located 200 kilometers east of Perth, leaving the tight-knit community in shock and sorrow.
Terry Czernowski, aged in his forties, met his untimely demise at a grain silo within the town, occurring at approximately 8:40 AM (WST) on September 7.
Residents of Kellerberrin were instructed to remain indoors and avoid unnecessary travel as law enforcement launched a manhunt for the shooter, 25-year-old Lachlan Bowles, who fled the scene in a gray vehicle while clad in camouflage attire and armed.
After several hours of intensive search operations, authorities located Bowles on farming land situated roughly 20 kilometers north of the town, within Western Australia’s wheatbelt region.
Police Commander for Regional WA, Rod Wilde, informed reporters that officers engaged in prolonged negotiations with the 25-year-old in a field. Tragically, these efforts culminated in Bowles sustaining a self-inflicted gunshot wound, leading to his demise at the scene, as confirmed by law enforcement around 6:30 PM.
On September 8, local police issued a statement on social media, officially revealing the identities of the victims. “Kellerberrin Police wish to express our sincere condolences to the family and friends of Terry Czernowski and Lachlan Bowles after the tragic set of circumstances that took place in Kellerberrin yesterday,” the statement conveyed. “Our thoughts are with you during this incredibly difficult time.”
Commander Wilde further disclosed that the two individuals involved had been co-workers for several years and were deeply embedded within the local fabric of the town. “Obviously, it’s a tragic outcome for everyone involved,” Commander Wilde remarked. “It’s a very close-knit community where every face is familiar, and I anticipate it will profoundly affect the entire town.”