How family who fell victim to horrific murder-suicide in Perth had been haunted by tragedy - as heartbroken young woman is left an orphan grieving for her only sibling

The death of a beloved Perth mother and daughter at the hands of an enraged gunman was the latest in a string of tragedies to befall the Petalczyc family.

Jennifer Petelczyc, 59, and her daughter Gretl, 18, were shot by Mark James Bombara, 63, at their Floreat home in Perth's west on Friday, before he turned the weapon on himself. 

Ms Petelczyc was friends with Bombara's ex wife and he had stormed into the house on the quiet, upmarket street looking for her.

He and Ms Petelczyc died at the property while Gretl was critically injured and was rushed to hospital by paramedics where she later died.

The family had already been dealing with the loss of their husband and father Jon in 2019 - which friends say Jennifer had struggled to move on from - and the death of their beloved family dog Sunny, a golden Labrador.

Friday's tragedy leaves daughter Liesl as the sole surviving member of the immediate family.

A close friend of the family, Daele Dobsen, told Daily Mail Australia on Saturday that Ms Petelczyc was a devoted mother and lamented that Gretl, who only recently got her P-plates, was just getting started in life. 

Ms Dobsen said she did not want Ms Petelczyc and Gretl to be remembered as 'victims by association of domestic violence'.

'I want them to be remembered as beautiful members of our community and I am overwhelmed with their loss,' she said.

'In my friendship with Jenny, I found her to be so very kind and generous to myself and my family, even opening up her home to host my son's 18th birthday party last year when I was unable to find a venue. 

'Jenny was a devoted mother who would do anything for her girls.'

The loss of Sunny also weighed heavily on the family, Ms Dobsen said.

'The family took on Sunny ... for the guide dog association, they ended up being able to keep her and loved her beyond measure and were devastated when they lost her.'

Sunny was adopted as a pup by the Petelczyc's, who were ambassadors for the Guide Dog Association.

Ms Petelczyc, Gretl and her sister, Liesl, were still coming to terms with the death of Jon. 

'The girls and their mother were still adjusting to the loss of their father [and] husband who was a pivotal member of the family,' Ms Dobsen said.

'Jenny was mostly treading water, trying to safely steer and guide the girls alone. There was not a day that she didn't think of her husband.' 

In 2019 Ms Petelczyc wrote that she did not know if her heart would 'mend or learn to live in pieces' in her husband's eulogy.  

'Jon, you were the love of my life, I don't know if my broken heart will mend or learn to live in pieces,' she wrote.

'If I could choose again, I'd still choose you. 

'Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference. Eternally yours, Jenny.'

Upon hearing of the latest tragedy to befall the family another family friend, Emme Wild, said that she was 'devastated beyond belief'.

Ms Dobsen said Gretl had been doing great since graduating St Hilda's Anglican School in 2022 and starting her bachelor of sport at the University of WA.     

'Gretl was just starting her life, pursuing her love of sport through her studies... She was a talented Water Polo player and was working locally part time to earn her independence,' Ms Dobsen said. 

The family is survived by her sister Liesl, who police said was not at the property at the time of the murders.

At a press conference on Saturday afternoon, WA Police Detective Inspector David Gorton revealed the man, a registered gun owner, visited the house looking for his ex-wife before shooting the two women.  

Detectives are investigating whether one of the women had her hands cable-tied by the shooter.

Det Insp Gorton also confirmed the man's ex-wife and a daughter were in the care of the homicide squad.

'We are providing any support we can to them.

'Obviously, they're very distressed by the circumstances and WA police will make the appropriate referrals to them for counselling.'

Police were called to the home in the city's inner north-west at about 4.30pm local time on Friday after the gunman opened fire.

A large police presence was at the scene of the shooting overnight.

A police helicopter was dispatched to the area and circled overhead at the height of the response. 

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