
A Sydney father who planned the horrific murder of his two teenage children before taking his own life had been involved in a long-running custody battle, police say.
The body of financial planner John Edwards, 68, was found early on Friday in his Normanhurst home, roughly 4km from where he killed his 15-year-old son and 13-year-old daughter in their West Pennant Hills home about 5.20pm on Thursday.
Police believe the gunman took his own life very soon after the shooting, which was overheard by neighbours.
“The information we’ve gleaned … leads me to believe this was premeditated and planned,” Acting Assistant Commissioner Brett McFadden told reporters in Sydney on Friday.
“It’s too early to get a full appreciation of what went on in the (West Pennant Hills) premises.”
Mr McFadden described the crime scene at the Hull Rd home as “absolutely horrific”.
West Pennant Hills: Two young teenagers, a boy and a girl, shot dead in their bedrooms. Their father 68-year old John Ian Edwards was found dead in Normanhurst after the incident. @dantececcon #7News pic.twitter.com/66MDL4Ae6y
— 7 News Sydney (@7NewsSydney) July 6, 2018