Suspected murder weapon found in Dubbo handyman homicide investigation

Police believe they have found the murder weapon used to shoot dead a handyman in central west New South Wales.

Dubbo man Frank Smith, 48, died in hospital after he was fatally shot in the small country town of Wellington on Monday, April 27, 2020.

Early today, police released an image of a .22 Ruger rifle they had recently found in the same town and launched a fresh appeal for information into the suspected murder.

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Homicide squad commander Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty said ballistic examinations confirmed the gun had been used to shoot Mr Smith dead but it was still going through forensics DNA testing.

"This is a significant step forward for detectives in this investigation and we would urge anyone who is yet to come forward to speak with police," Mr Doherty said. "This may be your last opportunity before officers come knocking,"

The revelation of new evidence came a little more than a month after Mr Smith's daughter issued a desperate plea for answers. 

"Today makes one year that I have been without my father and my daughter has been without her grandfather," Linda-Rose Morris, said.

"Precious time has been taken away from us – including the time my daughter had to know, and spend time with, her beloved pop."

Police believe Mr Smith may have been shot on Reid Street before collapsing in the front yard of a home on Thornton Street.

A neighbour drove him to hospital, but he was pronounced dead about an hour after arriving at Wellington Hospital.

More than 100 locals and witnesses have made statements to police but the shooter has not been charged.

Superintendent Doherty described the investigation as "protracted and complex" and said the seizure of the weapon was "an important breakthrough".

Last October, police released a video of a vehicle seen in the vicinity of Thornton Street shortly after Mr Smith was shot.