Knife-wielding man shot and killed by Queensland Police in Mount Louisa,Townsville
A 26-year-old North Queensland man was shot dead by police during an apparent mental health episode.
Emergency services were called to a house on Payne St in Mount Louisa, north-west Townsville, about 1.15am on Sunday.
Officers claim they found the man armed with a knife in the property.
Chief Inspector Chris Lawson said the man was known to police but had ‘minimal interactions’.
“As a result of an altercation that occurred at that residence, a man carrying a knife and approaching police has been identified,” he said.
“At this point, police attempted to use a Taser to disarm this man, but it was ineffective and as a result he was shot.”
A 26-year-old man was shot and killed by police in Mount Louisa, north-west Townsville (photo, officers on scene)
The police immediately provided first aid, but the man died on the spot.
It is believed that six officers of various ranks were on the scene at the time of the shooting.
Queensland Police are working to support the officers involved and the deceased man’s family.
“We have welfare teams providing support,” Supt Lawson said.
“We are also talking to the family members of the person who was shot, because it is obviously a very traumatic time for them as well.
‘We want to ensure that both police and families are aware of all the support options available to them.’
Neighbors of the house told us Courier mail they were awakened by multiple gunshots around 1:30 am.
“There was a lot of shouting from him and then the police told him to get down on the ground,” one person said.
“Then I just saw him start walking… then he stopped for a moment and then ran towards an officer and that’s when I heard the shots.”
Another described the people living in the property as “generally good neighbors and good people.”
‘My daughter woke up and I thought, ‘Oh God, what’s going on.’ “I believe he charged at the police with a knife and they shot him,” she said.
A crime scene has been marked at the home.
Officers claim man ‘went towards police’ while holding a knife, before officers shot him (photo, police on scene)
Supt Lawson said the Ethical Standards Command, overseen by the Crime and Corruption Commission, would investigate the circumstances of the shooting.
“The circumstances surrounding what exactly happened with the Taser are unknown at this time,” he said.
“Once we have conducted the investigation (and) determined through the body-worn images exactly what happened, we can pass that information on to the coroner.”