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 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 hours.
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.
Queensland Police Commissioner Katrina Carroll told reporters on Tuesday Mr Dare 'didn't stand a chance' when he turned up.
Constables Rachel McCrow, 29 (left) and Matthew Arnold, 26, (right) were both stationed at Tara police station
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.
HOW THE TRAGEDY UNFOLDED
Monday 4.30pm: Four officers attended a property on Wains Road at Wieambilla as part of inquiries into a missing school principal Nathaniel Train, 46, last seen in Dubbo in central-west NSW a year ago
4.30-5pm: Two gunmen dressed in camo, Nathaniel Train and his brother Gareth opened fire as police approached the house
Constable Matthew Arnold, 26, and his colleague Rachel McCrow, 29, were shot at close range and hit the ground. The gunmen stood over the injured officers and shot them dead before taking their Glock pistols. Neighbour Alan Dare, 58, was also shot dead.
After 5pm: A third officer, Constable Randall Kirk, who was shot in the leg but managed to escape is taken to the local hospital. His colleague, rookie cop Constable Keely Brough fled into surrounding bushland and is later rescued by a specialist police tactical team.
6pm: Police declare an emergency declaration zone encompassing the area between Chinchilla Tara Rd, Wieambilla Rd, Bennetts School Rd, and Mary Street.
After 6pm: Sporadic gunfire was reported by locals throughout the night
10.30pm: Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll pays tribute to the killed officers in an emotional press conference
11.30pm: Nathaniel Train and his brother Gareth, along with the brother's wife Stacey are shot dead following shootout with Special Emergency Response Team police
Tuesday morning: A convoy of police vehicles accompanying the bodies of the two slain police officers carried in vans left the crime scene en route to Brisbane's forensic mortuary on Tuesday morning.
The remains of constables Rachel McCrow and Matthew Arnold are expected to arrive by late morning at the John Tonge centre at Coopers Plains in Brisbane's west, where they will undergo autopsies.
English (United States) ·