Inquest into 2024 Floreat double murder and police, medical, gun law failures

Consensus Summary

On May 24, 2024, Mark James Bombara, a 63-year-old man with a history of domestic violence and mental health struggles, fatally shot Jennifer Petelczyc, 59, and her daughter Gretl, 18, in their Floreat home before killing himself. Bombara, armed with at least two Glock handguns, arrived at the home around 4:14pm while searching for his estranged wife, Rowena. The incident unfolded over roughly 27 minutes, with Gretl making desperate Triple Zero calls at 4:31pm and 4:41pm as Bombara fired multiple shots. Police arrived at 4:46pm, but Gretl died shortly after being rushed to hospital. The tragedy exposed systemic failures in police response, medical care, and gun law enforcement, prompting a coronial inquest that began on Monday.

The murders occurred amid a backdrop of long-standing family violence and police inaction. Bombara’s daughter Ariel had repeatedly warned authorities about his violent tendencies and missing firearms, but officers failed to act despite clear red flags. Bombara himself had a documented history of mental instability, including a 10cm brain cyst and strokes that altered his behavior, yet medical professionals discharged him without adequate mental health assessments. His legal ownership of 13 firearms—11 under a recreational licence and two handguns—highlighted gaps in WA’s gun laws, which were later tightened in March 2025 following public outrage. The reforms, including mandatory mental health checks every five years and disqualification orders for domestic violence reports, were met with resistance from gun advocacy groups.

Key figures in the case include Bombara’s estranged wife Rowena, who heard Jennifer’s pleas over the phone, and Ariel, who has publicly condemned police for ignoring her warnings. The inquest is examining the medical care Bombara received, the police response to the Triple Zero calls, and whether his firearm licence should have been revoked. Bombara’s family has criticized hospitals for failing to assess his mental state properly, while police have faced scrutiny over their handling of domestic violence reports. The case has also reignited debates about Australia’s response to family violence, with statistics showing 60 women and 28 children killed by violence nationwide in the two years since the murders.

While both ABC and 7NEWS agree on the core timeline—Bombara’s arrival at 4:14pm, the first gunshot at 4:31pm, and the final shot at 4:41pm—they differ in emphasis. ABC focuses on the broader systemic failures, including the January 2025 police report and the gun law reforms, while 7NEWS provides more granular details from CCTV and phone recordings, such as Bombara’s exact words to neighbors and Gretl’s Facebook messages to her sister. ABC also highlights the political backlash against the gun law changes, noting a 2024 ePetition with over 31,000 signatures opposing the reforms, whereas 7NEWS does not mention this. Both outlets, however, agree that the inquest will scrutinize police discretion in assessing risk and the adequacy of mental health interventions.

The inquest is expected to last five days, with the coroner focusing on whether Bombara’s medical care and police actions contributed to the tragedy. Unresolved questions include why officers did not follow up on Ariel’s warnings and why Bombara’s mental health deterioration was not addressed more aggressively. The proceedings may also explore whether the gun law changes have had the intended effect in reducing firearm-related violence. As the inquest progresses, the case serves as a stark reminder of the failures in protecting victims of domestic violence and the ongoing challenges in balancing gun safety with individual rights.