A young mum apparently randomly shot dead through the window of her car in north Queensland is being remembered as a “beautiful person”.

It came as the state’s police minister said the man accused of shooting 34-year-old Natalie Frahm dead in her car in front of her daughter and another young girl had obtained his gun illegally.

Frahm was leaving her Mackay home to take the two girls, aged 11 and 12, to a sporting activity on Wednesday afternoon when Ryan Geoffrey Cole, 31, allegedly shot her.

He is also accused of shooting 66-year-old good Samaritan James McGill, who rushed to aid Frahm after the two girls raised the alarm.

Frahm’s family have flown to Mackay from Mount Isa, where they live, as floral tributes arrived on Friday outside the home she shared with her FIFO partner.

Local gym owner Nick Vanderzee said Frahm was a dedicated mother and kind person.

“To happen to such an innocent, beautiful person … it’s very, very devastating,” he told the ABC.

“She’d be the type of person who would help anybody, she’d give you the shirt off her back.”

Mackay Mayor Greg Williamson said the local community was reeling.

“This is the sort of thing that just doesn’t happen in Mackay,” he said.

“A random, outrageous act of violence is something that takes a lot of time to absorb – it’s just such a tragic event.”

Vanderzee’s gym has set up a GoFundMe fundraiser for the girls, with more than $9000 pledged by Friday. There has also been other support, as the South Mackay community also tries to process the incident.

“The two young girls who were in the back of the car and ran off to get help are going to live with this for the rest of their lives,” Williamson said.

He hailed the girls’ bravery, as well as praising McGill for approaching the alleged gunman.

“How good was that? It’s a typical Australian reaction I think – you go in and help,” he said.

Queensland Police are investigating how Cole allegedly got a gun after having his weapons licence revoked three years ago. Eleven firearms were taken from him at that time.

On Friday, state Police Minister Mark Ryan said the full investigation into the deadly shooting must be allowed to run its course.

“This person had firearms illegally. His weapons licence had been cancelled. Police had taken those weapons off him,” he said.

“Part of the investigation will look to how he might have come in to possession of this illegal firearm.”

Queensland Police have said Cole and Frahm were near neighbours, but did not appear to know each other. He allegedly approached Frahm as she sat in the vehicle with the girls, before shooting her.

On Thursday, Detective Acting Superintendent Emma Novosel said it was “a tragic incident where two young girls have witnessed a violent death”.

“I want to acknowledge and commend their bravery for actually managing to remove themselves from such a dangerous situation and raise the alarm,” she said.

“It’s incredibly brave and I can’t even begin to imagine the trauma that they must be experiencing.”

Frahm died at the scene.

The girls were unharmed. They ran to a nearby house, where they found McGill visiting his elderly mother. He rushed to help Frahm but was allegedly also shot by Cole, suffering hand and chest injuries.

He remains in the Mackay Base Hospital in a serious but stable condition.

Cole is accused of driving away, sparking an emergency lockdown of the area and a manhunt. He was arrested at a nearby service station hours later.

Williamson said the community had been on edge amid fears a gunman was on the loose.

“They have settled down, but now it’s the grief that is associated with trying to acknowledge that this has happened,” he said.

The mayor said the community would start to heal while rallying behind the girls.

“It’s going to be a grieving process, which will take a fair while to work out … but over the next few days the community will rally,” he said.

Cole has been charged with murder and attempted murder. He appeared via videolink in Mackay Magistrates Court on Thursday and was remanded in custody.

-with AAP