3 people, including a child, have been killed in a shooting near Toowoomba, QLD.

The victims of the apparent murder-suicide at a home near Toowoomba have been named.

Update (4 March 2015): Heavily pregnant mother Kris-Deann Sharpley, 27, was on maternity leave at the time of her shooting death in the town, west of Brisbane.

Daily Mail reports Ms Sharpley had been living with and taking care of her father Derek, 52, who was also found dead in the home.

Ms Sharpley’s seven-year-old son Jackson also lost his life in the tragic incident.

Police  stopped short of confirming the tragedy was a double murder-suicide, but Detective Inspector David Isherwood said only two of the deaths — those of Ms Sharpley and her son — appeared suspicious.

“I must stress that we are in the early stages of our investigation however it would appear that two of the deaths are suspicious and the death of the man is non suspicious,” he said.

“There are no concerns for public safety,” a police spokesman added.

Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the victims.

The below gallery pays tribute to women who have lost their lives, or who have allegedly lost their lives, to family violence. Mamamia will continue to update and republish this gallery each time another woman loses her life to violence.

Previously, Mamamia published:

By ABC News

A woman who was among three people killed at a home near Toowoomba, west of Brisbane, was heavily pregnant, police say.

The bodies of a 52-year-old man, a 27-year-old woman and a 7-year-old boy were found on Monday night by a relative who also lived at the house in the township of Biddeston, 25 kilometres west of Toowoomba.

Police have confirmed the man is the father of the woman and the grandfather of the young boy.

The adults had gunshot wounds to their heads, police said, but it is not known at this stage if the boy was also shot dead.

I won’t disclose at this time whether it is a murder-suicide as has been alleged in the media because we just don’t know.

– Detective Inspector David Isherwood speaking in Biddeston.

A high-calibre gun was used at close range, Queensland Police Detective Inspector David Isherwood said.

Forensic teams arrived late on Monday night and by daylight scientific officers were still at the scene. The street remains cordoned off.

Detective Inspector Isherwood also revealed the woman was heavily pregnant and said it appeared the victims were all from the one family.

While the bodies were found on Monday night, it is believed the shootings may have occurred on Sunday.

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The body of the child and man were found in a bedroom and the female was in the bathroom.

Three shots were heard by two neighbours in the small rural community about 10:30pm on Sunday.

Two came close to each other, the third was some time after, Det Insp Isherwood said.

“The police that attended the scene were distressed mainly because the injuries were quite horrific, it’s a tragic event that’s occurred here,” he said.

When police arrived they had to force their way in.

“It would appear the house was secure,” Det Insp Isherwood added.

Police won’t confirm reports of murder-suicide

Speaking to reporters, he would not confirm whether the shooting was a murder-suicide and said officers would investigate if another person was involved.

“At this stage it does not look like that is the case, but it is too early to tell,” he said.

“I won’t disclose at this time whether it is a murder-suicide as has been alleged in the media because we just don’t know.”

The family was known to police but a motive has not emerged.

Related content: ACT Mum murdered one week after giving birth.

The neighbours that heard the gun shots did not hear a disturbance on Sunday night.

“The relatives of the people, as are the people of Biddeston, are shocked,” Det Insp Isherwood said.

“It’s a small, quiet community and for something like this to happen in a community like this would impact on the community as a whole.”

This article was originally published by ABC and has been republished here with full permission.