Woman randomly shot dead in Mackay in front of children described as 'absolute treasure' (2024)

The 34-year-old woman who was randomly shot through the window of her car and killed in north Queensland has been identified as Natalie Frahm — a "beautiful person" and "absolute treasure".

A 31-year-old man, who police allege lived on the same street but was not known to Ms Frahm, has been charged with her murder, and the attempted murder of a good Samaritan neighbour who rushed to her aid.

Police allege Ryan Geoffrey Cole shot and killed Ms Frahm, whose car was parked on the driveway outside a Robb Place residence in South Mackay at about 4:30pm on Wednesday.

The victim's family declined to make a statement, requesting privacy as they grieve but supplied a photograph of their beloved sister and daughter.

Natalie and her FIFO partner had moved to Mackay from Mount Isa, where her family is based.

On the "about us" page of her brother's business, where she worked as the customer service manager, she was described as an "epic cook" with "a new-found talent for smoking meats".

"When she's not busy manning the phones, you'll find her out and about camping, motorbike riding or skateboarding her way around town."

Natalie was also a "Muay Thai boxing fanatic" and an "absolute rockstar", the page added.

'Some of us cried'

Nick Vanderzee, who knew Ms Frahm for two years through his business as a Muay Thai gym owner, described her as a dedicated mother and kind person.

"To happen to such an innocent, beautiful person … it's very, very devastating," Mr Vanderzee said.

"She'd be the type of person who would help anybody, she'd give you the shirt off her back."

He said the community was shocked.

"It'll take us a bit for us all to get our heads around and understand what's happened," Mr Vanderzee said.

"When you come and unlock the door and know that she's never going to step foot in the gym again … it's really sad.

"We all came together this morning, we still held a training session, some of us cried … some of us hugged and we were just there to support each other."

Woman was heading out to 'sporting activity'

Two children, who were in the car at the time, fled the scene on foot, alerting their neighbour.

Police said the 66-year-old man approached the alleged shooter and was shot in the hand and sternum.

He remains at the Mackay Base Hospital in a stable condition and underwent surgery on Thursday.

The two children were not physically injured.

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Detective Acting Superintendent Emma Novosel said the children were 11 and 12 years old and the woman was taking the children out when the incident occurred.

"They were heading out to some sort of sporting activity," she said.

"It's obviously a tragic incident where two young girls have witnessed a violent death.

"I want to acknowledge and commend their bravery for actually managing to remove themselves from such a dangerous situation and raise the alarm.

"It's incredibly brave and I can't even begin to imagine the trauma that they must be experiencing.''

The children are now in the care of family.

'Revolver style weapon'

Detective Acting Superintendent Novosel said "witnesses have described that it was a revolver-style weapon".

"At this stage, I understand there has only been one shot fired at each of our victims," she said.

Detective Acting Superintendent Novosel said the man was known to police, but there had been no recent interactions.

She said they were unclear on motive.

"We've had some interaction with that man, very minimal, and no recent calls for service in relation to either that man [or] the deceased woman," she said.

Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski said police would look "really closely" at the incident, but also what led up to it in terms of the alleged shooter and his access to weapons.

"A life has been lost in front of children by a really terrible act of violence ... and another person has been seriously injured," he said.

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"We know certain things about him and where he lived and where the victim was, so we know there is an association in relation with that."

Commissioner Gollschewski said the man was previously licensed for weapons, and 11 weapons were taken away from him in 2021.

Man arrested at service station

The 31-year-old man left the scene before police arrived, prompting an emergency declaration to be issued under the Public Safety Preservation Act (PSPA), locking down the cul-de-sac and surrounding streets.

Police later tracked a car being driven by the alleged shooter to a service station along the Bruce Highway.

Armed police surrounded the service station, where he was arrested without incident.

The PSPA was revoked at approximately 10:30pm and police said there was no ongoing threat to the public.