Terry Czernowski revealed as victim of shooting at Moylan Grain Silos in Kellerberrin

The man shot dead by Lachlan Bowles at a grain silo in the Wheatbelt has been identified as local father Terry Czernowski. Mr Czernowski, aged in his 40s, was killed at the Moylan Grain Silos - where he worked - on Mather Road about 8.40am on Thursday. After an extensive manhunt, police tracked Mr Bowles down to a rural location “outside of Kellerberrin” and were attempting to “negotiate a peaceful resolution”. Tactical police and Mr Bowles were engaged in a tense siege for a number of hours before he turned the gun on himself just after 4pm. Police confirmed he has since been airlifted to hospital in a critical condition. The homicide squad is investigating Mr Czernowski’s death. Kellerberrin residents confirmed Mr Czernowski was the father of a young daughter. “The guy that died was only in my shop on Friday. We were talking about his plans for Father’s Day,” Kellerberrin Pie Shop and Bakery owner Tony said. Another local said Mr Czernowski was the “life of the party” and well-known around town. Tony said the shooter had come into the bakery for lunch on Wednesday and was a younger colleague of Mr Czernowski’s. “He won an award two years ago for being a volunteer in town. He drives the local ambulance,” Tony said. “He’s always been a quiet sort of a guy but you don’t expect him to turn around and pick up a gun and shoot someone. Kellerberrin shearer Mitchell Harvey told The West how Mr Bowles shot at cars during his rampage after one local pulled over to offer him a lift, thinking he needed help. “Some farmer who was checking his paddock drove past him and asked if he needed a lift and he shot his door,” Mr Harvey said. “I saw him this morning on the way to work. I had no idea he was going off there to kill someone.” Mr Harvey said he always had an “off feeling” about Mr Bowles. “It’s Kellerberrin, this never happens. It’s so surprising,” he said. “You know when you just look at someone and get a bad feeling.” Mr Bowles ditched his Holden Commodore on Mission Road before police engaged in tense negotiations with the shooter. It is understood Mr Bowles is licensed to hold guns, including a firearm that has a range of about 3km. It comes as the RAC Rescue helicopter landed near Kellerberrin on Thursday afternoon, where Mr Bowles was dressed in camouflage and on the loose. A flight tracking website showed the helicopter landing near Tammin, which is about 20km from Kellerberrin, about 1.30pm. It is understood the aircraft was dispatched for precautionary reasons. Police were due to hold a press conference at 12.45pm, however it was cancelled at the last minute for “operational reasons”. Meanwhile, police are continuing to warn people in Kellerberrin and Bencubbin to stay indoors and “avoid travelling by any means”. St John WA has five crews on standby in Kellerberrin, a spokesperson confirmed. The neighbouring Shire of Merredin has closed all shire facilities per police advice and says it continues to monitor the situation. The shire alerted the community via Facebook that “all Shire facilities (including the Admin Centre and Merredin Tip) will be closed until further notice, as per WAPOL advice to remain indoors due to the on-going incident in Kellerberrin”. “Facilities will reopen as soon as we receive advice this is possible,” the shire said. Moylan Grain Silos owner Corey Moylan was at the Newdegate Machinery Field Days on Thursday morning and is understood to have left to return to Kellerberrin as soon as the news broke.