Breakthrough in shooting that killed two cops and a neighbour as man is arrested in the United States
FBI agents in the US have arrested a man in connection with a remote shooting that tragically claimed the lives of two Queensland police officers and a Good Samaritan neighbor nearly a year ago.
PC Matthew Arnold, 26, and PC Rachel McCraw, 29, were shot at close range by Nathaniel, Gareth and Stacey Train shortly after arriving at their property in Wimbilla in the state’s Western Downs in December 2022 while searching for Nathaniel.
Neighbor Alan Dare was also killed during the siege, before Nathan, Gareth and Stacey were shot dead by police hours later.
A police investigation later revealed that the two slain constables were involved in a fatal ambush carried out by trains that were affiliated with the sovereign citizen movement and were adherents of the Christian fundamentalist belief system known as premillennialism.
The FBI announced on Wednesday that agents had arrested a 58-year-old American man near Heber Overgaard, northeast of Phoenix in Arizona, following an extensive investigation in collaboration with Queensland Police.
The arrest comes nearly a year after Constable Matthew Arnold, 26, and Constable Rachel McCraw, 29, were shot dead.
Next Tuesday marks one year since Gareth and his ex-wife Stacey Train, along with his brother Gareth, were shown dead by two police officers and a Good Samaritan neighbor.
Agents made the arrest on Dec. 1 in what they say was “a religiously motivated terrorist attack.”
The investigation in Arizona is ongoing, police added.
The breakthrough comes after Queensland Police investigators from the Ethical Standards, Security and Counter Terrorism Unit recently visited the US.
A preliminary coronial hearing earlier this year heard there was an investigation into Trains’ online activities to “identify possible associates who may have influenced their actions.”
Queensland Police said the families of the slain officers and Mr Dare had been informed of the latest developments along with the coroner.
The two officers wounded in the ambush shooting were also briefed: Constable Keely Brough and Randall Kirk.
Police expect to provide more details at a joint news conference with the FBI later Wednesday.
Next Tuesday will mark one year since the tragedy that rocked Queensland.
Queensland Police have announced a breakthrough after a man was arrested in the US earlier this month. The photo shows officers at the state funeral of their slain colleagues.
Neighbor Good Samaritan Alan Dare (pictured) was also killed after going to the Trains property to investigate.