Sister of gunman who sparked town lockdown says he needed help

The sister of a gunman who threatened people across a small town before killing himself has said he was not a monster, and simply needed help.

Last month Nathan Sexton plunged Merredin, in Western Australia's Wheatbelt, into lockdown.

He shot at a car at Bannister twice and carjacked good Samaritans who tried to help, which sparked a police manhunt. The 31-year-old then turned the gun on himself.

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"He's not a monster, he's a good person," his sister Jessica Sexton said.

"I wish I could help him, I just want it to be a bad dream.

"I just wonder what was going through his head, how down and out he was feeling."

Sexton claims her brother, who she described as her best friend, was let down by WA's overwhelmed health system.

"None of it makes sense," she said.

He struggled with addiction for most of his life, but managed to get sober for eight years.

Earlier this year he was separated from his son Ivan, then one, who has Down syndrome.

"He was deteriorating, you could see the hurt in his eyes. You could see the pain in his eyes," his sister said.

Sexton was shocked as to how her brother, who she believes started using drugs again, got access to a gun.

"I would love to know where he got the gun from because they should be held responsible," she said, adding that she supports the state government's gun law overhaul.

The grieving sister also offered an apology to the victims, who were held at gunpoint and threatened during his rampage.

"It's not fair, it's not fair. You gotta live with that," she said.

Readers seeking support can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or beyond blue on 1300 22 4636. Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467.

MensLine Australia 1300 78 99 78. Multicultural Mental Health Australia www.mmha.org.au.

National Domestic Violence Service: 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732). If you are in immediate danger call triple zero (000).