A mother and daughter shot dead in their home were killed by their friend’s ex-husband, who was on the rampage looking for his former wife.

Jennifer Petelczyc, 59, and her daughter Gretl, 18, have been identified as the victims of the horror double murder in Perth’s affluent suburb of Floreat.

Police said the gunman, 63, was on the hunt for his former wife at the house on Berkeley Crescent, but she was not there at the time.

Instead, the man shot dead Jennifer, 59, who was his ex-partner’s close friend, and critically wounded her daughter who died later in hospital, police said.

He then took his own life.

The shooter’s ex had warned the occupants of the house that her former husband was on his way, and had urged the victims to hide, police said.

Gretl Petelczyc, 18, was rushed to hospital but died. Photo: Facebook

Police rushed to the home about 4.30pm on Friday afternoon after reports of gunshots.

WA Police Detective Inspector David Gorton said officers had arrived on the street by the time the last shot was fired.

“We believe that last shot was the male taking his own life,” he told reporters on Saturday.

“We still have ballistic technicians at the scene (and) at this stage, we’re really unsure about how many shots were fired.”

Officers discovered two bodies — the mother and gunman — and paramedics rushed Gretl to Royal Perth Hospital where she later died.

The sole surviving member of the Petelczyc family is reportedly daughter Liesl. The family’s patriarch, Jon, lost his battle with cancer in 2019.

Gorton said the gunman was known to police but did not have a history of violence.

“Any death is tragic,” he said.

“However, when you get a multiple murder, it has that greater impact on the family, the friends, the first responders and certainly the community at large.”

A close friend of the family, Daele Dobsen, told Daily Mail Australia that Petelczyc was a devoted mother and Gretl had only recently achieved her P-plates.

“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.”

Police raced to the leafy suburb of Floreat and blocked off the street. Photo: 7NEWS

Gorton said police were continuing to support the man’s ex-wife, family, friends and emergency responders affected by the tragic incident.

“We had the ex-wife and one of her daughters in our care at homicide squad last night (and) we are providing any support we can to them,” he said.

“Obviously they are very distressed by these circumstances and WA Police will make the appropriate referrals to them for counselling.”

However, police are not treating the shooting as family violence-related because the man and the mother were not in a relationship, despite having met on previous occasions.

The investigation into the circumstances of the shooting is ongoing.

‘Stop killing women’

Curtin MP Kate Chaney said women were “exhausted and furious”.

“Two women have lost their lives because of a man with a gun, and it’s a reminder that violence against women happens in every community, even right here in our backyard,” she said.

“Enough is enough. So many women that I’ve spoken to in my community last night and this morning are feeling exhausted and furious because more women are dying at the hands of a man.

“Men have to stop killing women.”

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-with AAP