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Terrifying moment as man, 24, yells ‘shoot me down’ at police, is gunned down on the main street of a busy tourist town as witnesses who mistook the fatal shots for fireworks reveal what sparked the incident
- Man, 24, was shot by police after allegedly threatening them with a knife
- He was in Airlie Beach in Whitsundays when the shooting started after midnight
- Witnesses say they heard the man yell ‘shoot me’ at police officers
- Police say taser use was ‘not possible’ as investigation continues
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A man wielding a knife yelled ‘shoot me’ at police before being shot after allegedly threatening officers on a street in a popular tourist town in Queensland.
A 24-year-old Western Australian, who was working in Townsville, died after being shot and killed in Airlie Beach, in the Whitsundays, just after midnight on Saturday.
Police say he was armed with a knife and threatened them before the shots were fired.
Two mates Budd Norris and Kade Luck were on a night out in the popular town when they heard the fatal shots.
A 24-year-old Western Australian, who was working in Townsville, died after being shot in Airlie Beach, in the Whitsundays, just after midnight on Saturday (police are seen at the scene)
They said they saw the man running down the road with ‘a knife in his hand’.
“He’s like ‘shoot me, shoot me,” and he’s just decided to run on them (the officers),” Mr. Norris told the courier post.
“How often don’t you see that in Australia?” said Mr. Luck.
Witnesses said they heard police telling him to put down the knife and fire a warning shot as he ran toward the officers.
“And then bang bang, after he kept coming at them,” said Mr. Luck.
The couple thought fireworks had gone off in the street.
Kade Luck (pictured) witnessed the incident and said the man said ‘shoot me’ to police
Bystanders are seen in the street after shots rang out through the popular nightclub district
Police claimed the man threatened officers and approached them on Shute Harbor Road at 12:20 p.m. before being shot up to five times.
Officers at the scene provided first aid and the man was taken to Proserpine Hospital, but died shortly after.
A crime scene has been identified and the investigation into the incident continues by the Ethical Standards Command under the supervision of the Crime and Corruption Commission.
A man who filmed himself eating a kebab nearby managed to capture the shots on video.
A man who filmed himself eating a kebab nearby managed to capture the shots on video
Several shots can be heard, with the man repeatedly exclaiming ‘they have shot him the fuck’.
It is clear that the knife allegedly used had a 4-5 cm blade and a black handle.
Queensland Police Superintendent Graeme Paine said the man had “moved on” to the officers who withdrew their firearms.
He warned against carrying a knife in a public place where people consume alcohol.
“I want to emphasize the dangers of carrying a knife in a public place — it’s a defense in certain circumstances,” Supt Paine said.
“But to carry a knife in a neighborhood that’s a dynamic place, where people consume alcohol, that really poses a big threat to the public — including the police there trying to maintain everyone’s safety.”
Supt Paine said police had spoken to the man’s family in WA, adding that it was “tragic” for his loved ones and for the officers involved.
Queensland Police Union chairman Ian Leavers said the use of a taser was ‘not possible’ during the incident.
The incident was captured on CCTV footage and the police are investigating.
It is not clear that the man was under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Police investigating incident say taser use was ‘not possible’