The death of a Perth mother and daughter at the hands of an enraged gunmen has left a young woman the sole surviving member of her family as she continues to grieve the loss of her father.
Jennifer Petelczyc, 59, and her daughter Gretl, 18, were shot dead by Mark James Bombara, 63, at their Floreat home in Perth’s west on Friday, before he turned the weapon on himself.
Bombara had stormed the house on the quiet, upmarket street looking for his ex-wife, a good friend of Jennifer.
It’s understood he cable-tied the two women after being unable to find his ex, before making several threatening phone calls.
He and Jennifer died at the property while Gretl was rushed by paramedics to hospital where she later died.
Friends said the family was still struggling to come to terms with losing their husband and father Jon to cancer in 2019.
They had also recently lost their much-loved family dog Sunny, a golden Labrador.
Friday’s tragedy leaves daughter Liesl as the sole surviving member of her immediate family.
A close friend of the family, Daele Dobsen, told Daily Mail Australia on Saturday that Ms Petelczyc was a devoted mother and lamented that Gretl, who only recently got her P-plates, was just getting started in life.
Gretl, who recently got her P-plates, was only just getting started in life after graduating high school and starting a bachelor of sport degree at the University of WA
Ms Petelczyc and Gretl’s deaths are the latest tragedies to befall the family after father and husband Jon (pictured with Ms Petelczyc) died in 2019
Friday’s tragedy leaves daughter Liesl as the sole surviving member of the immediate family
Ms Dobsen said she did not want Ms Petelczyc and Gretl to be remembered as ‘victims by association of domestic violence’.
‘I want them to be remembered as beautiful members of our community and I am overwhelmed with their loss,’ she said.
‘In my friendship with Jenny, I found her to be so very kind and generous to myself and my family, even opening up her home to host my son’s 18th birthday party last year when I was unable to find a venue.
‘Jenny was a devoted mother who would do anything for her girls.’
The loss of Sunny also weighed heavily on the family, who were ambassadors for the Guide Dog Association, Ms Dobsen said.
‘The family took on Sunny… for the Guide Dog Association, they ended up being able to keep her and loved her beyond measure and were devastated when they lost her,’ she said.
More recently the family’s dog, Sunny, had also died, family friend Daele Dobsen told Daily Mail Australia
Ms Petelczyc and Bombara died at the scene and Gretl was critically injured and later died in hospital
Gretl’s older sister Liesl, who police say was not at the property at the time of the incident, is the family’s surviving member
Ms Dobsen said Jennifer, Gretl and Liesl were still coming to terms with the death of Jon.
‘The girls and their mother were still adjusting to the loss of their father [and] husband who was a pivotal member of the family,’ Ms Dobsen said.
‘Jenny was mostly treading water, trying to safely steer and guide the girls alone. There was not a day that she didn’t think of her husband.’
In 2019 Ms Petelczyc wrote that she did not know if her heart would ‘mend or learn to live in pieces’ in her husband’s eulogy.
‘Jon, you were the love of my life, I don’t know if my broken heart will mend or learn to live in pieces,’ she wrote.
‘If I could choose again, I’d still choose you.
‘Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference. Eternally yours, Jenny.’
Upon hearing of the latest tragedy to befall the family, another friend, Emme Wild, said she was ‘devastated beyond belief’.
Ms Dobsen said that Ms Petelczyc was a good friend and one that she will miss dearly
Jenny Petelczyc, 59, and her daughter Gretl, 18, (pictured together) were shot by a Mark James Bombara, 63, at their Floreat home in Perth’s west on Friday in a double-murder-suicide
Ms Dobsen said Gretl had been excelling in life since graduating St Hilda’s Anglican School in 2022 and starting her bachelor of sport at the University of WA.
‘Gretl was just starting her life, pursuing her love of sport through her studies… She was a talented water polo player and was working locally part time to earn her independence,’ Ms Dobsen said.
At a press conference on Saturday afternoon, WA Police Detective Inspector David Gorton revealed Bombara, a registered gun owner, visited the house looking for his ex-wife before shooting the two women.
WA Police Detective Inspector David Gorton revealed Bombara (pictured), a registered gun owner, visited the house looking for his ex-wife before shooting the two women
WA Police Detective Inspector David Gorton revealed the Bombara, a registered gun owner, visited the house looking for his ex-wife before shooting the two women.
Det Insp Gorton also confirmed that Bombara’s ex-wife and a daughter were in the care of the homicide squad.
‘We are providing any support we can to them,’ he said.
‘Obviously, they’re very distressed by the circumstances and WA police will make the appropriate referrals to them for counselling.’
Police were called to the home in the city’s inner north-west at about 4.30pm local time on Friday after the gunman opened fire.
A large police presence was at the scene of the shooting overnight.
A police helicopter was dispatched to the area and circled overhead at the height of the response.
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