The murders of a Perth mother and daughter shot dead in their home by a man looking for his former partner were “chilling and horrific”, the Western Australian Premier says.

The gunman, 63, shot Jennifer Petelczyc, aged 59, and her 18-year-old daughter Gretl on Friday at their Floreat home before taking his own life.

The killer has been named as 63-year-old Mark James Bombara, and he apparently believed his ex-wife was staying in the Petelczycs’ home.

WA Premier Roger Cook said the shooting was “senseless” and the women were “innocent people” who had died helping a friend in need.

“This is a circumstance in which a woman has sought refuge from a friend,” Cook told Perth radio station 6PR on Sunday.

“As a result of that, that friend and her daughter have come to harm.”

Cook said the community should reflect on the deaths and “how we can all continue to make the world a safer place.”

“They’re innocent people … simply doing what we’d all want someone to do when we’re facing difficult circumstances,” he said.

“A friend that would stand by you and provide you with a bit of comfort and safety in their home.

“By every measure, it looks senseless, chilling and absolutely horrific.

“We all stand together in absolute condemnation of this sort of violence.”

Cook said he would consider strengthening WA’s tough gun laws, which were recently updated and in the process of passing through the state parliament.

He also said more needed to be done to combat family violence.

“This is a community, society-wide issue, and we all need to stand as one to condemn family and domestic violence,” he said.

Police were called to the family’s Floreat home about 4.30pm last Friday after reports of gunshots. They arrived as the last shot was fired.

Officers found two bodies. Paramedics rushed 18-year-old Gretl to Royal Perth Hospital, where she later died

Jennifer Petelczyc was a close friend of Bombara’s ex-wife.

He was known to police but did not have a history of violence.

-with AAP