- Updated
- National
- Queensland
- Crime
This was published 5 months ago
Man who killed his aunty and himself at Albany Creek had gun licence
By Sean Parnell
The family at the centre of a suspected murder-suicide at Albany Creek on Sunday had a history of conflict that was known to police and the courts.
Police believe a 46-year-old man killed his 77-year-old aunty with several gunshots before turning the gun on himself. The only other resident, the man’s 88-year-old mother, was found at the Jambaroo Street house unharmed.
The mother had yet to speak to police on Monday morning.
Detective Acting Superintendent Craig Williams confirmed the man was the registered owner of a licensed handgun that he used to kill his aunt - with “a number of shots” - and himself.
“This is a tragic incident and we are assisting the family to the best of our ability,” Williams said.
Williams said there was no history of domestic or family violence orders specifically between the three people living at the house. He did not name them, and said a report would be prepared for the coroner.
While police had attended the house in the previous week, Williams would not be drawn on the nature of the callout and whether the man should have had access to a firearm.
“It would be inappropriate for me to comment on that because the matter is still under investigation,” Williams said.
“It only occurred yesterday.”
It is understood the man had lived with his mother after a relationship breakdown and previously obtained a temporary protection order against another family member. Police were called to the Albany Creek house at the time and the man, according to court documents, claimed the other family member had “access to numerous firearms”.
The house has been the subject of a long-running, and as-yet unresolved, civil dispute. A mediator was unable to broker any agreement between family members.
Before the temporary protection order, and the start of the property dispute, the man claimed to have suffered a spinal injury and a psychological injury in a workplace incident. He sued his employer and the matter was resolved through mediation.
Under Queensland gun laws, anyone with a weapons licence must convince authorities they are mentally and physically fit.
What we know so far
Police were called to a Brisbane house a “number of times” in the week before a man shot his aunt dead and then killed himself in a tragic murder-suicide.
The 46-year-old man was a licensed gun owner and used a handgun, registered in his name, to kill his 77-year-old aunt before turning the weapon on himself about 5pm on Sunday.
His 88-year-old mother was not physically harmed and raised the alarm about 5.20pm.
Detective Acting Superintendent Craig Williams said the 46-year-old man fired a “number of shots” which killed his aunt.
Williams confirmed police had attended the house on Jamboree Street in Albany Creek a number of times in the past week, but did not elaborate further.
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