Queensland police fatally shot a 48-year-old man armed with a rifle early Sunday morning while responding to a domestic violence incident in Narangba, north of Brisbane. The confrontation occurred at approximately 12:30 a.m. when officers arrived at the residence following reports of an armed individual making threats.
While officers were speaking to an occupant at the front door, the armed man approached the police and made immediate threats. Law enforcement issued verbal commands and attempted a tactical withdrawal, but the situation rapidly escalated, resulting in police discharging their service weapons.
Officers rendered first aid and commenced CPR until paramedics arrived, but the man died at the scene. No officers sustained physical injuries during the incident. The Queensland Ambulance Service transported three other individuals, believed to be close relatives of the deceased, to a local hospital where they are listed in stable condition.
Acting Chief Superintendent Kerry Johnson stated the 48-year-old was known to law enforcement and had a history of prior interactions. An active legal order was imposed on the man at the time of the shooting. The incident is now under active investigation by the Police Ethical Standards Command and the Crime and Corruption Commission, according to a live news blog by The Guardian tracking the Narangba shooting. The matter has also been formally referred to the state coroner for a comprehensive review.