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Three firearms licensed to Peter Miles, who was found dead — along with six others — in a suspected murder-suicide near Margaret River, have been recovered at the crime scene, police said.
West Australian Police Commissioner Chris Dawson would not confirm if police believed the 61-year-old was the shooter, only saying the investigation at the scene would take several more days.
Police were called to the small community of Osmington early on Friday morning after getting a phone call from a man who officers said was connected to the property.
At the scene they found the bodies of seven people. The three adults and four children had all been shot dead.
Katrina Miles, 35, and her four children Taye, 13, Rylan, 11, Arye, 10, and 8-year-old Kadyn Cockman, were among the victims, along with Peter Miles' 58-year-old wife Cynda.
Commissioner Dawson said a female adult was found inside the main house and five people were found dead in a shed, which had been converted into living quarters.
He said only one person was located outside of the buildings.
Commissioner Dawson confirmed the firearms were licensed to Mr Miles.
The Miles family were active members of the local community, with Cynda Miles hosting sewing bees at the Osmington Road property.
He said the children's father had been notified of the tragedy.
"Police have spoken to the children's father, he's understandably grieving and we're providing as much support as we can," he said.
Family members released a statement through police.
"We are devastated by this shocking event. We are stunned and still trying to understand how this could happen," the family said.
"We respectfully ask that the community refrain from speculating on the circumstances surrounding this tragic incident.
"We thank the community for their support and ask that our privacy is respected as we grieve."
Augusta-Margaret River Shire president Pam Townshend said counselling sessions were being set up in the town's community resource centre for anyone who needed help.
"We're providing this area, which is a place where the community can reflect and offer their condolences," she said.
"There'll be skilled volunteers, along with a range of agencies, who will be there available to assist with community support services."
WA Police also made a number of services available to the officers dealing with the incident.
The police chaplain has been supporting officers through what Commissioner Dawson described as one of the most confronting cases police have had to deal with.
It is the worst mass shooting in Australia since the Port Arthur massacre in 1996, in which 35 people were killed and another 23 seriously injured by lone gunman Martin Bryant.
WA Premier Mark McGowan described the incident as shocking.
"Four young children, a mother and a grandmother being killed in this way is just a terribly distressing and sad thing, and I think we all felt it keenly," he said.
Topics: murder-and-manslaughter, law-crime-and-justice, domestic-violence, margaret-river-6285, osmington-6285
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