Sydney father who shot dead children 'planned' the attack, police say

from ABC News

The 68-year-old man found dead this morning after fatally shooting his two teenage children at a Sydney home has been identified by police.

The father, financial services worker John Edwards, had been involved in custody hearings about the children over the past two years.

In what police described as a "planned attack", police say Edwards went to a West Pennant Hills home and shot his son Jack, 15, and daughter Jennifer, 13, shortly before 5:20pm on Thursday.

They were found in their bedrooms in the home they shared with their mother.

After an overnight search, police discovered Edwards' body this morning at his home in Normanhurst, a suburb on Sydney's Upper North Shore, about 5 kilometres from where the children were killed.

Two guns, described as "powerful handguns" by police, were found at the property.

"The information we've gleaned in the last 15 hours [leads] me to believe that this is something premeditated and planned," NSW Police Acting Assistant Commissioner Brett McFadden said.

"And we believe that shortly thereafter he went to the Normanhurst address and took his own life."

The children's 36-year-old mother returned to her home shortly after police arrived on Thursday night.

Police believe the teens were at home alone when their father shot them.

"[The mother] attended the scene suffering from significant shock. I can't even imagine the stress and the heartache that she is going through right now," Commissioner McFadden said.

"It is a horrific homicide … this is a most traumatic incident."

Edwards was known to police, however Commissioner McFadden said he had no "contemporary" criminal record.

Police said there had been custody hearings over the two children.

"The details about the nature of the relationship, particularly in recent times and the level of access that the 68-year-old had to his children is subject to investigation," Commissioner McFadden said.

Posting on Facebook, the student leadership council at Pennant Hills High School, where one of the teenagers attended, said their "hearts broke" on finding out the news.

"Today [we] found out that one of our students was taken from us too soon," the statement said.

"Our deepest condolences go out to any students, friends, family and teachers that are affected by such heart-breaking circumstances, and such a devastating event."

This man wanted to hurt his wife so much, and he knew just how to do it.