Aubrey Donahue: Man shot by police after domestic violence incident at Mareeba identified
The mother of a 27-year-old says she wants answers after her son was shot and killed by police during an alleged domestic violence dispute at Mareeba.
Cairns
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The mother of a 27-year-old says she wants answers after her son was shot and killed by police during an alleged domestic violence dispute at Mareeba.
Aubrey Donahue died following a four-hour siege at a Love Street address on Saturday.
Police attended following reports the man threatened self-harm. Police allege Mr Donahue was not allowing another occupant of the house, a woman, to leave.
When specialist officers entered the house at 3.30pm, they fatally shot Mr Donahue after police allege he was armed with a knife and advanced on the officers.
A police spokesman said CPR was performed but Mr Donahue could not be revived.
The community has been in unrest since the shooting; officers were verbally abused and objects thrown at their cars when they left a community meeting on Sunday afternoon.
Mr Donahue’s mother, Desley, told the tense, 100-strong crowd that the situation had not been explained to her fully.
Police say they are unable to comment at length due to the ongoing investigation.
“My son has got bullet holes in his body. I’m his mother, and they (police) aren’t telling me anything,” she said.
“I thank you all for coming. I don’t know what me and my kids would do without your support.”
Acting Superintendent Kevin Goan, who addressed the meeting, said he could not comment on the nature of the ongoing investigation but said it would be ethical, unbiased and comprehensive.
One person in the crowd called for the officer who fired the bullets to be stood down, another wanted the officer publicly named.
Earlier that day, a man claiming to be a brother-in-law disputed Mr Donahue was armed.
“He was walking out the door to give himself up. He said to them he only had a phone in his hand,” he said.
Andy Courtney, an uncle, said police should have spoken to his mother or elders.
“If the police had worked with his mother, or with the elders, he would have come out when he heard their voices,” Mr Courtney said.
“We need them to work with us.”
At a separate press conference, Far North regional crime co-ordinator Detective Acting Superintendent Sonia Smith said she “won’t predict” when the crime scene would be finalised as an “extensive investigation” was underway.
Family members of Mr Donahue are unable to return to the home until the crime scene is cleared.
During a media conference in Cairns on Sunday afternoon, Det Supt Smith was unable to comment on whether or not the weapon Mr Donahue had allegedly armed himself with had been recovered.
“The Ethical Standards Command are conducting the investigation and they will decide in consultation with the State Coroner every step of the investigation,” Det Supt Smith said.
Responding to a question about what police were doing to restore calm and peace with Mareeba’s Indigenous community, Det Supt Smith said: “It’s a priority for our police in
Mareeba to remain engaged and support our community to work through this difficult time.”
When asked whether or not police officers involved in the shooting would be stood down or continue their duties, Det Supt Smith said: “Police are still working and there is an independent investigation underway.”
Rashad Miles, a neighbour, said he heard the commotion on Saturday.
“The police had a negotiator there. For hours, they were trying to get him to come out of the house,” Mr Miles said.
“I heard them knocking down the door, and then I heard three gunshots.”
“They didn’t come out for a while. Then I saw one of them come out screaming for a medic.”
Mr Miles said about 60 people then ran to the street, shouting and screaming, demanding to get access to the house.
“When everyone in Mareeba found out, they were all up the road,” he said.
Another neighbour, Jenny, said she and her family felt scared.
“There were three gunshots, around 3.30pm. We heard a lady screaming, saying ‘They shot my son’,” she said.
“The emotions were really bad, other people were swearing at the cops. We had never heard people swearing at the cops like that.
“I was scared.”
Ian Hamilton, who also lives on the street, said he saw several tactical police officers arrive in unmarked cars. He said they entered the building with long rifles, helmets and masks.
“I was just mowing the lawn but saw more and more police cars arrive. The blokes were in their camo gear, so I came round the corner and then I heard the shots,” Mr Hamilton said.
“They sounded like semi-automatics, it was a succession of shots … these blokes had a lot of gear on. They were covered in cameras.”
The incident will be investigated by the Ethical Standards Command on behalf of the State Coroner. It will be overseen by the Crime and Corruption Commission.
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Originally published as Aubrey Donahue: Man shot by police after domestic violence incident at Mareeba identified
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