A touching video shows the moment police officers perform a guard of honour for an innocent neighbour who was gunned down by conspiracy theorists when he went to check on gunfire at a nearby property.
Alan Dare, 58, has been remembered as a loving husband, father and grandfather after he was shot in the back and killed in a mass shooting alongside two police officers in Wieambilla in rural Queensland on Monday.
Four police officers were searching for Nathaniel Train, an experienced school principal, who was last seen a year ago when they walked into an ambush – with two of them, Matthew Arnold, 26, and Rachel McCrow, 29, killed.
Mr Dare heard a commotion at the neighbouring property and went to investigate in a decision that cost him his life.
Tragically, Mr Dare and his wife Kerry would have celebrated their 26th wedding anniversary on Wednesday.
Alan Dare was gunned down at a neighbour’s property on Monday just two days before his 26th wedding anniversary with wife Kerry
A video obtained by Daily Mail Australia shows police officers forming a guard of honour at the property as Mr Dare’s body was driven away among a convoy of police vans.
His granddaughter Renee described it as a ‘guard of honour for Poppy’ and noted he was ‘always and forever in our hearts’. The video was inundated with tributes from grieving family and friends.
‘Al was like a father to me. He will be missed greatly R.I.P. to one of the greatest men I’ve ever been lucky to know in my entire life,’ one woman commented.
Just two days ago, Mr Dare’s widow Kerry shared a heartfelt Facebook post about their love story.
Ms Dare shared candid details about the dates that happened after they first met in 1981, their proper relationship which kicked off in 1994, their engagement in 1995 and saying ‘I do’ on December 14, 1996.
‘Still together. Always,’ Ms Dare ended the post.
Police officers formed a guard of honour as Alan Dare’s body was driven away in a convoy of police vans on Tuesday
Alan Dare’s wife Kerry posted a series of dates about their relationship two days before he was shot dead at a neighbour’s property
Alan Dare (pictured) was ‘just doing the right thing’ and checking on a fire and the sound of gunshots at his neighbour’s place
Local Brett Hovey has launched an online fundraiser to raise funds for his mate’s funeral.
‘I am trying to raise funds for our friend who was tragically taken. I am trying to raise funds to give to his widow so Al the farewell service he deserves,’ Mr Hovey wrote.
‘Al was helping police at a property when he and two police officers were fired upon. I am hoping that we can raise as much money as possible to help Al’s widow Kerry through this hard and painful time.’
‘Al would have helped anyone. The farewell service date is to be set and will be advised.’
The page quickly raised more than $4,000 within a few hours.
‘From one land owner to another, checking in on a neighbour should never end like this! Condolences to the wife,’ one donor posted.
The Queensland Police Service Union has also established a remembrance fund for the families of the two slain officers.
Mr Dare lived in a 114-acre block next door with his wife saw the smoke and heard shots on Monday afternoon.
The Train family next door had started burning down the bush in order to flush out police officer Keely Brough who was hiding from the killers.
Meanwhile, a growing crowd of devastated locals have gathered outside Tara police station, where slain constables Arnold and McCrow were stationed.
The perimeter fence and nearby bench has been swamped with tributes, including dozens of flower bouquets and handwritten messages.
‘Fly high precious angels,’ one card read.
Constables Rachel McCrow, 29 (left) and Matthew Arnold, 26, (right) were both stationed at Tara police station
Queensland Police Commissioner Katrina Carroll told reporters on Tuesday Mr Dare ‘didn’t stand a chance’ when he turned up.
Officers remain at the property on Tuesday morning carrying bags of evidence to be taken away to be examined
Queensland Police Union president Ian Leaver said earlier: ‘This ruthless, murderous trio showed absolutely no compassion.
‘[Mr Dare] was doing what was right to investigate and help someone.’
Just hours earlier, Mr Dare’s stepson Corey Richards wrote in a social media post that his stepfather’s dead body was left ‘lying in the middle of the road’.
One family friend replied: ‘So sorry for your loss a beautiful innocent man bringing a good neighbour shot… for what?
‘This is so so … I simply have no words. If there is anything we can do.’
Another said: ‘I’m so sorry to hear mate this should never have happened.’
Police attended a neighbour property searching for Nathaniel Train, an experienced school principal, who was last seen a year ago,
Matthew Arnold, 26, and Rachel McCrow, 29, were fatally shot in a hail of bullets. A third officer, Randall Kirk was shot in the leg and managed to escape
Their colleague Keely Brough fled into bushland as the camouflaged gunmen lit a fire and tried to smoke her out.
She was later rescued by a specialist police tactical team of 16 officers which had scrambled to the scene.
Sporadic gunfire was reported by locals through the night before a climactic shootout with the Special Emergency Response Team police about 11.30pm which left three people – reportedly two men and a woman – dead.
The two men were Nathaniel Train and his brother Gareth, along with Gareth’s wife Stacey.
Gareth and his wife had resided at the property since 2015.
The officers had were responding to a request from NSW counterparts in relation to the whereabouts of Nathaniel, last seen in Dubbo a year ago.
Nathaniel was believed to have been living in regional northern NSW before travelling to Wieambilla to join his brother.
Nathaniel had a history of at least two traffic offences in Queensland and NSW.
He was also a former school principal at Yorkeys Knob State School in Cairns in far north Queensland and most recently at Walgett Primary School in northern NSW.
Police had attended the Queensland property as part of inquiries into missing man Nathaniel Train (pictured), last seen in Dubbo in central-west NSW a year ago
