A physiotherapist has been charged after allegedly murdering his wife and shooting his daughter after a tense four hour standoff with police in a suburban street.
Vasilis Vergulis, 51, allegedly ambushed his wife Aleksandra and daughter Daniela and gunned them down as they returned to their family home in Campbelltown, in Adelaide‘s north east, on Saturday afternoon.
Police rushed to Elm Road where they found Ms Vergulis, 51, dead out the front of the home. Her 22-year-old daughter was rushed to Royal Adelaide Hospital with serious injuries.
Vergulis then allegedly barricaded himself inside the house as dozens of specialist officers swarmed the street.
Aleksandra Vergulis (pictured) was allegedly murdered by her husband on Saturday
Specialist officers are pictured at the scene on Saturday amid the four-hour siege
He surrendered himself to police around 5pm and was taken to the City Watch House where he was charged with murder and attempted murder.
Vergulis did not apply for bail and will attend Adelaide Magistrates Court on Monday.
Vergulis, who uses the nickname Bill, is an exercise physiotherapist who has worked at hospitals across Adelaide.
His wife was an executive assistant for UniSA Education Futures, at the University of South Australia, where she has been employed for almost 12 years.
The couple’s daughter, who goes by the nickname Dana, only graduated from the same university where her mother worked three months ago.
‘I am so proud to announce that I have graduated from the University of South Australia with a Bachelor of Laws (Second class Honours) and Bachelor of Psychology,’ Daniela, wrote on LinkedIn.
Pictured: Daniela Vergulis, who was rushed to hospital with serious injuries
‘I look forward to continuing my career in law, and I can’t wait to see where it takes me!
‘I am so grateful for my loved ones who have supported me through this journey.’
Her mother, who affectionately called her daughter Dana, added a gushing comment sharing her pride.
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‘Well Done Dana! I am so proud of you sweetheart,’ Ms Vergulis wrote.
‘You are brilliant, able and ambitious, an achiever. It was a big pleasure seeing you grow and turn into the beautiful young lady, an educated professional that you are today.
‘I bless you with all that you need to earn many more achievements and feasts in life ahead and I always be there to support you.’
Ms Vergulis was employed at the University of South Australia
The couple’s daughter had only recently graduated from university with a degree in law and psychology
Daily Mail Australia understands the couple, who had lived in the street for around five years, also share an adult son, but both children no longer live at the home.
Neighbours described Ms Vergulis as a ‘lovely woman’ and said they were shocked by the tragedy.
They said the family were originally from Poland but had been in Australia for a long time.
One local resident said Vergulis would always say hello when he walked his dogs by the house in the morning.
‘He always said good morning and have a good day,’ he said.
‘I never thought something like this would happen.’
As residents come to terms with the shocking incident, fresh blood stains and bloodied shopping bags still filled with groceries could be seen on the family’s driveway on Sunday morning.
Police, who worked late into Saturday night scouring the crime scene, remained at the home on Sunday.
As the alleged shooting unfolded, police cordoned of the home and surrounding streets while Special Task and Rescue (STAR) Group officers, paramedics, firefighters, and a police helicopter raced to the scene.
Motorists were advised to avoid the area and residents in the blocked off area were told to remain indoors.
Around 30 officers swarmed the street as tense negotiations kicked off at the Campbelltown home
