Police have backed an officer who shot an alleged knife-wielding man at a central Queensland property, saying the experienced police officer “had no choice”.
A single officer was called to a house on Running Creek Rd in Kilkivan, near Gympie, on Friday afternoon after reports of a “disturbance” and located a 52-year-old man with fatal stab wounds who was later pronounced dead. died at the scene.
A second man, 42, was shot in the chest after allegedly threatening the officer with a knife, a Queensland Police spokesman said.
A small community in central Queensland has been rocked by a fatal stabbing in which an officer shot the suspected knife.
The man remained at Sunshine Coast University Hospital on Saturday in a critical condition.
Acting Detective Superintendent Paul Algie said the Kilkivan station officer had attempted to calm the situation.
“The police officer attempted to retreat and negotiate with the man and did so over a long period of time…unfortunately he was left with no choice but to fire his service pistol,” Det Algie said at a press conference on Saturday..
‘He shot him once in the chest and then immediately came to his aid to provide first aid according to his training.
“Upon backup police arriving, Goomeri’s colleagues and friends assisted with first aid not only to the suspect but also to the man who had been initially stabbed.”
The officer involved had 10 years of policing experience and has a young family.
Detective Algie described the incident as shocking and said it was an “unusual set of circumstances” for the quiet law-abiding district where he has been stationed since 2017.
“I can confirm that none of this has occurred in that community during the time I have been in the area,” Det Algie said.
While the family was known to police, it was only in the context of being a small community where everyone knew everyone.
Police had never before been called to the property for a complaint or emergency.
“Kilkivan is a very small rural community and our officers in that community are obviously very concerned about what has happened,” Det Algie said.
‘As a district official, this is the worst phone call you can receive.
‘Preliminary investigations reveal that the alleged offender was holding a knife and that knife was in his hand when he was shot.
“There is generally no crime in the community, so this is very shocking.”
Police say the two men had a “familial relationship” and both lived on the property with healthcare workers supporting residents.
A crime scene has been declared at the home and police investigations continue.
Responding to a question about whether the deceased man was physically disabled and wheelchair-bound, Acting Superintendent Algie said investigators were still piecing together his physical condition.
He told media that the only responding officer had attended as backup to paramedics who had been called to the property.
A Queensland Police Service spokesperson said the alleged homicide and subsequent shooting was being investigated by the Ethical Standards Command, with oversight by the Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC).
“The scene has been declared a crime scene and the police investigation continues,” the spokesperson said.
Police also launched a separate homicide investigation into the alleged stabbing.