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AAP
AAP
National
Jacob Shteyman

'Armed and dangerous' alleged wife killer at large

A manhunt is under way for Kevin Jewell, who is alleged to have murdered his wife in their home. (HANDOUT/SOUTH AUSTRALIA POLICE)

An armed gunman accused of murdering his wife in their home is the target of a statewide police manhunt.

Kevin Jewell, 55, shot his wife Jodie dead in their suburban Adelaide property soon after 6pm on Tuesday, police said.

Superintendent Doc Bray said Ms Jewell, 55, had previously told a friend she had been the victim of domestic violence, which had not been reported to police.

Shooting victim Jodie Jewell
Jodie Jewell was found dead in her suburban Adelaide home with a gunshot wound.

The friend became concerned when she couldn't contact Ms Jewell and called police who found the mother dead with a gunshot wound in her Modbury North home.

Kevin Jewell lived on the upper level of the house, while Ms Jewell and her teenage daughter lived downstairs.

"They had been somewhat estranged for a period of time," Supt Bray told reporters.

Their teenage daughter is not believed to have been at home at the time of the incident.

"Obviously she's facing the trauma of what's happened and she's being looked after by relatives," Supt Bray said.

Police on Wednesday obtained an arrest warrant for Jewell in the Adelaide Magistrates Court for the charge of murder.

"If Kevin is watching, I make this appeal to him," Supt Bray said.

"Kevin, you can't undo what has been done last night.

"We are actively looking for you and we will locate you. I encourage you forthwith, straight away, without any delay, to engage with a solicitor and negotiate your safe surrender to police."

He warned the public not to engage with Jewell, who is described as being of average build, 90kg and 178cm tall with a scruffy appearance.

Mitsubishi Triton ute
Kevin Jewell is believed to be driving a Mitsubishi Triton ute but should not be approached.

"We believe Kevin is armed with a rifle and ammunition," Supt Bray said.

"He is considered armed and dangerous and should not be approached by anyone."

Jewell is believed to be driving a white Mitsubishi Triton ute and police said he could be looking to hide out in the countryside, as he was seen loading items including backpacks and an esky from the home on Tuesday afternoon.

"He likes hunting, he likes camping and he's known to basically set up in the bush in his normal relaxation time, so that's a very strong likelihood," Supt Bray said.

"We've got an enormous amount of resources looking for him."

Supt Bray said Jewell was a licensed firearms holder and police had no information before the attack that would have precluded him from legally owning one.

Ms Jewell is the fourth woman alleged to have been murdered in South Australia in the past week.

A man was arrested in the remote APY Lands on Tuesday and charged with the murder of a woman known to him at her home in Felixstow in Adelaide's east last week.

Murder scene in Adelaide
Police are investigating the shooting at the Modbury North property.

It follows the arrests of Michael Edward Amos on Friday and Clifford Aurthor Neumann on Sunday, both charged with murdering women known to them.

None of the matters are believed to be related.

SA Minister for Domestic Violence Prevention Katrine Hildyard said news of the four deaths was shocking.

"It is a call for us to intensify our actions," she told ABC Radio.

"Domestic violence is preventable.

"At the core, we need to drive prevention and everybody has a role to play in that. And the role that everybody has to play is shifting those attitudes that feed into gender inequality, disrespect, violence towards women."

1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)

Lifeline 13 11 14

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