Dramatic new details are revealed of gunman’s deadly shootout with police – as witnesses reveal how he shot passing cars at random on the road
A man has been shot dead after confronting police at gunpoint on a major highway, as shocked witnesses told how he opened fire on them as he drove past.
Two officers shot at the 36-year-old man as he emerged from a stolen car along the Bruce Highway in central Queensland and pointed the gun at them, police say.
The man stole the vehicle containing the rifle and ammunition south of Gladstone on Monday.
Police said he later confronted a 61-year-old woman at a Coliseum address with the gun and demanded her car keys.
“He then stole another four-wheel drive utility from that address, driving through it… (and) destroying the front gate on the way out,” Detective Darrin Shadlow said.
One witness revealed he saw a police warning that a gunman was heading to his roadside restaurant in a stolen Landcruiser.
Moments later, other vehicles arrived, riddled with bullet holes.
“He was just shooting whatever was passing by as he was driving by,” the man told 9News.
“A truck driver came in who had a couple of bullet holes in his truck where he had been shot at. He was a little upset…I made him coffee.”
The Bruce Highway was closed for hours before being reopened Monday evening
The man allegedly stole a vehicle containing the rifle and ammunition south of Gladstone on Monday
A police patrol later came across the stolen ute on the Bruce Highway but did not attempt to intercept it.
Det Supt Shadlow said the man then parked on the side of the highway and got out, pointing the loaded rifle at police.
Officers told him to drop the gun, but “he didn’t and unfortunately the police had to intervene and then shoot that male subject.”
Officers performed CPR and paramedics were called, but the man died at the scene.
“It’s obviously a very tragic circumstance,” Det Supt Shadlow said.
‘The police don’t go to work expecting this to happen. However, they are trained and ready if something like this happens.
“Unfortunately, this male individual has given police no choice.”
Det Supt Shadlow would not specify how many shots were fired by police but said advice would be given to the officers involved.
‘They were shaken yesterday afternoon. All support is extended to them,” he said.
The incident is being investigated by Ethical Standards Command.
The Bruce Highway was closed for hours before being reopened Monday evening.
Police respond to shooting south of Gladstone
The 36-year-old man was from Cairns but has been traveling ‘in and around’ central Queensland over the past week.
“We’ve had some interactions with him,” Det Supt Shadlow said.
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