The sister of a gunman who terrorised the small towns of Merredin and Bannister before forcing a pub into lockdown insists he was not a monster.
Nathan Sexton first launched his attack on innocent bystanders who stopped to check on a car crash on Albany Highway, Bannister, 100km south of Perth, about 5.20pm on October 21.
He shot at two groups of good Samaritans before stealing a car and driving about 300km to Merredin, where police placed residents under lockdown.
Officers found him just after midnight but he had already taken his own life.
“He’s not a monster, he’s a good person,” his sister Jessica Sexton told 9 News on Monday.
“I wish I could help him, I just want it to be a bad dream.
“I just wonder what was going through his head, how down and out he was feeling.”
Ms Sexton apologised to the families who were impacted by her brother’s crime spree and said it was something she would have to “live with”.
Nathan Sexton hid in waiting for good Samaritans to pull over at a crash site in Bannister, WA. Nine Credit: NCA NewsWire
He fired shots at two groups before stealing a car. Nine Credit: NCA NewsWire
“It’s not fair, it’s not fair. You gotta live with that,” she said.
Ms Sexton said her brother’s mental health had recently taken a turn for the worse after he was separated from his one-year-old son Ivan, who has down syndrome.
“He was deteriorating, you could see the hurt in his eyes. You could see the pain in his eyes,” Ms Sexton said.
Patrons at a Merredin pub were forced into lockdown while the gunman was on the loose. Nine Credit: NCA NewsWire
She said she had no idea how Nathan had obtained a gun and hoped that whoever supplied it to him was held responsible.
Jessica Sexton says her brother ‘not a monster’. Nine Credit: NCA NewsWire
How the crime spree unfolded
Sexton and an unidentified woman hid in the bushes beside the scene of a car crash on the Albany Highway in Bannister about 5.20pm on October 21.
A crashed red Holden Commodore sedan caught the attention of the five passengers inside a black Mitsubishi Triton ute who pulled over and tried to offer their help.
Mr Sexton’s mental health went downhill, his sister said. Nine Credit: NCA NewsWire
The pair as kids. Nine Credit: NCA NewsWire
One of the ute passengers began walking over to the crash scene when a man carrying a firearm and a woman emerged from behind bushes, according to police.
The gunman allegedly fired two shots, with one bullet flying through the ute’s passenger-side window and out the driver’s-side window before the driver escaped – leaving one passenger behind.
Police say the car returned to pick up the passenger and more shots were allegedly fired at them.
None of the passengers were injured.
Soon after a second couple pulled over at the crash scene and were also set upon by the gunman, who allegedly held them at gunpoint while he stole their gold Volvo station wagon.
Mr Sexton took his own life after the siege. Nine Credit: NCA NewsWire
His sister said he had recently been separated from his one-year-old son. Nine Credit: NCA NewsWire
The gunman and the woman then drove nearly 300km north to Merredin where they allegedly began their pursuit of more victims, according to police.
About 10.30pm, police received a report the alleged offenders had followed a female driver before aiming a gun at her.
While she escaped without injury, the threat prompted police to place the town under lockdown.
At least 90 people, who were enjoying Saturday night drinks at the local pub, were all sent an emergency text alert sometime after 11pm.
The text sent to residents of Merredin warning them to ‘stay inside’. Nine Credit: NCA NewsWire
“WA Police Force are dealing with an incident in Merredin,” the message said.
“Until this matter is resolved police request all residents secure their properties and stay inside.”
Pub staff barricaded everyone inside the pub where they anxiously awaited news.
About 11.45pm, a 24-year-old woman got out of the stolen Volvo station wagon and was taken into custody by police.
Just after midnight, the stolen Volvo came to a stop on the Great Eastern Highway.
When police approached the car, they found Mr Sexton unresponsive with head injuries. He was unable to be revived.
News Related-
Paul Rudd shares details of ‘horrible’ restrictive Marvel diet
-
John Travolta reveals he nearly died after his jet suffered ‘total electrical failure’
-
Stephen Colbert suffers ruptured appendix, cancels Late Show
-
‘The HG Wells of football’: How Terry Venables became a cultural icon
-
I’m a Celebrity campmates ‘gutted’ as Grace Dent quits show: ‘She hasn’t let us down’
-
Bobby Brazier’s dad makes emotional statement after Strictly tribute dance for Jade Goody
-
Chris Brown denies being anti-semitic after dancing to new Kanye West track
-
Priest stripped of duties for letting Sabrina Carpenter film music video in church
-
Jean Knight, ‘Mr Big Stuff’ singer, dies aged 80
-
Celebrities, politicians among those named in sex abuse suits filed under NY's Adult Survivors Act
-
Book Review: 'Welcome to The O.C.' serves as a definitive look-back at the 20-year-old Fox drama
-
Stephen Colbert's 'Late Show' pulled until next week as host recovers from surgery
-
Book Review: 'Outrageous: A History of Showbiz and the Culture Wars' argues history repeats itself
-
Celebrity birthdays for the week of Dec. 3-9