Premier extends support for police, public after armed man shot dead

The Premier has extended condolences to the Townsville community on Sunday after police the day before shot a man wielding a machete and a knife, who had been moving towards them.

Officers responded to reports of a man armed with multiple weapons on The Strand in Townsville’s North Ward just before 10am on Saturday.

Police said the man – who had yet to be formally identified on Sunday – was shot in the chest and, despite immediate medical attention, was declared deceased at the scene.

Speaking in Townsville on Sunday, Premier David Crisafulli said his immediate reaction was “one of sadness for the officers involved, [and] the broader community”.

“[These incidents] are never easy things to comprehend and process, and it’s important that we enable the internal investigations that go as part of that – but we’ve got to acknowledge that these are really difficult times for everyone involved,” Crisafulli said.

The Premier was there to spruik a knife-crime crackdown in the region, with the state flying squad assisting officers with screenings following the permanent introduction of Jack’s Law last month.

Chief Superintendent Graham Payne said more than 650 people had been screened for knives or bladed weapons since Friday last week.

“Our police are working extremely hard across a number of different areas, not just within Townsville, but across the state,” Payne said.

It is unknown what prompted the fatal incident on Saturday.

A crime scene was established near the intersection at Mitchell and McKinley streets and an investigation by the force’s Ethical Standards Command is under way.

Queensland’s Crime and Corruption Commission is overseeing the inquiry. Police said investigations were continuing on Sunday.

No police officers or members of the public were physically injured during the incident.

Superintendent Chris Lawson said officers involved in the shooting were already receiving support after the “highly traumatic” incident.

“We will continue to provide assistance to our police that have been here today and we will make sure that this event is investigated to the full extent of what the coroner requires,” Lawson said on Saturday.

“These events today will undergo a significant amount of investigation.”

Body-worn cameras worn by the officers involved will also be examined during the investigation, he said.

Saturday’s incident is the third police shooting in Townsville in the past year.

Lawson said police were trained to handle dangerous incidents.

“Some of these instances require the use of lethal force to make them come to an end,” he said.

“It is a continuing and ongoing effort of this district to ensure that they people that work for us here in Townsville are supported.”

With AAP