Swastika-wearing Australia man waving Nazi flag fatally shoots co-worker, takes own life during police standoff: report

A man who fatally shot a father-of-two before turning the gun on himself wore a Swastika and waved a Nazi flag during his rampage, according to reports.

Lachlan Bowles, 25, shot co-worker Terry Czernowski, a father in his 40s, at a grain silo business in Kelleberrin, Australia about 127 miles east of Perth, Australia at around 8.40 p.m. on Wednesday.

The shooting plunged the town into lockdown and started a daylong police search for Bowles, who was clad in camouflage.

Bowles was located by police early this afternoon where he was barricaded inside a rural property.

According to the West Australian, he was waving a Nazi flag and wearing a Swastika.

Bowles then fled, shooting at a car but miraculously avoiding the driver who was unharmed.

Police cornered Bowles in a field during an hours-long standoff before the gunman shot himself.

He was declared dead at the scene.

Police Commander of Regional WA Rod Wilde told the media on Thursday evening that Bowles was located about 12 miles north of the town.

“He was situated in a field there, and [Tactical Response Group officers] had been talking to him for several hours,” Wilde said.

At least one police car was shot at during the incident, before Bowles is understood to have shot himself, ending the stand-off.

“Obviously it’s a tragic outcome for everyone involved,” Wilde said.

It’s understood Czernowski had a young daughter.

“The guy that died was only in my shop on Friday. We were talking about his plans for Father’s Day,” Kellerberrin Pie Shop and Bakery owner Tony told the West Australian newspaper.

Another local said Czernowski was the “life of the party” and well-known around town.

Bowles had lived in the town for several years.

“We do believe both men were known to each other, and worked together in Kelleberrin … they weren’t related,” Commander Wilde said.

He also confirmed Bowles was licensed to own a number of different guns.

Bowles was a volunteer paramedic with St John Ambulance in 2022, according to a newsletter from the Shire of Tammin local government.

Shortly after the shooting, police responded to the incident in force, and issued an alert seeking the whereabouts of Bowles in the Kellerberrin area.

“Members of the public are advised to not approach Mr. Bowles or the vehicle but contact police immediately on triple-0,” a Western Australia Police spokesperson said in a statement.

Kellerberrin residents were urged to remain inside during the incident.