THE NEIGHBOUR of a couple killed in a murder-suicide has spoken of his bid to get the gunman to put down his rifle before the tragedy.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Her husband, Greg Floyd, had armed himself with a high-powered rifle.
Their neighbour Luke – who asked for his last name to be withheld – had been at home with his wife and two children when Ms Holt and her family ran inside his house.
He tried to reason with Mr Floyd in the moments before the double shooting, but the gunman had a blank expression.
“(Ora) was in the door with her kids and in the back of our house before I had any chance to take any action,” he told The Border Mail.
“She was getting her kids to the other side of the property, away from Greg.
“They know our property quite well.
“The room Ora led the kids into is a dual entrance room with an exit to the back of the property.
“Ora did what any other mother would do – she was trying to protect her girls and boys.”
Despite being armed with a rifle, Luke said Mr Floyd wasn’t acting differently to his normally calm demeanour.
“I checked on my wife and kids and then I went and tried to talk to Greg,” he said.
“I just did what any else would have done – I said ‘just put the gun down mate, let’s talk’.
“There was no response.”
Luke, his wife and their two young children, as well as the late couple’s two girls and two boys, ran about a block to safety.
The shooting occurred a short time after Mr Floyd entered the home.
“(His demeanour) was as if he was walking to the mailbox, just being Greg,” the neighbour said.
“There was nothing out of the normal, apart from the obvious. We tried to talk him down.”
Luke had never heard the pair arguing in the years they lived next door.
Like many, he is baffled by what’s occurred.
“He spent as much time with the kids and family when he wasn’t working,” Luke said.
“You wouldn’t have picked it.
“I’m still trying to figure out where it came from mate.
“We’ve known the neighbours for three years, I wouldn’t have picked it.
“Ora was just a peaceful, calm mum of four kids.
“She was a peaceful soul.”
Luke and his young family have no immediate plans to move back into the home, which was taped off as a crime scene after the deaths.
“I’m happy that all the kids are safe,” he said.
“I’ve got two beautiful boys and a beautiful wife.
“My family is safe and we got all four of their kids out.
“They can grow up and do what they want to.
“There’s always a silver lining.
“It’s a lot to deal with, but we’re getting there.”
For help or information call Lifeline on 131 114.
