Cairns armed siege: Gunman shot dead after 12-hour stand-off
Police have released a statement after a man was fatally shot this afternoon by officers after a wild pursuit and standoff west of the Captain Cook Highway.
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UPDATE 6pm: An armed man has been shot by police after a siege in Cairns’ north today.
Police released a statement about the incident this afternoon:
“Around 4:30am this morning, the man allegedly attempted to break into an infrastructure facility off the Captain Cook Highway at Palm Cove.
LATEST: POLICE THOUGHT CROCS HAD TAKEN GUNMAN
“The man was disturbed by a nearby resident and left the scene. As the man was leaving in his car, he deliberately collided with a police vehicle attending the incident.
“Officers immediately requested further assistance and multiple crews responded.
“A short time later at Smithfield the man allegedly deliberately veered towards a police officer on the side of the road.
“As a result, a 26-year-old constable suffered a suspected broken wrist and other non-life-threatening injuries.
“The man’s vehicle stopped on the Captain Cook Highway at Yorkeys Knob where he allegedly set it on fire.
“As police approached, the man allegedly produced a firearm and discharged a shot towards officers prior to running from his vehicle.
“Police established a cordon around an area to the west of the Captain Cook Highway to contain the man.
“While trying to identify the man’s whereabouts among the long grass, several shots were allegedly fired towards police and a helicopter.
“Around 3.15pm, it will be alleged the man was in waist deep water and raised the firearm towards police. As a result, the man was critically injured when police returned fire.
“The man was pronounced deceased at the scene.
“This matter is under investigation by Ethical Standards Command on behalf of the State Coroner.
“That investigation is subject to oversight by the Crime and Corruption Commission.”
UPDATE 3.40pm: Semi-automatic gun fire has been heard coming from an area close to Thomatis Creek off the Captain Cook Highway.
At the scene, the Cairns Post, can report three short bursts of an automatic weapon could be heard coming from near the go cart track on the highway.
It’s understood a gunman on the run from police since early this morning remains at large.
Earlier a 2km exclusion zone to the west of the highway between the Yorkeys Knob and Holloways Beach roundabout was set up under the Public Safety Preservation Act.
Traffic heading south on the highway from the Caravonica roundabout is also being diverted away meaning access to Yorkeys Knob can only be made via Dunne Rd.
The man at large is described as being in his late 20s or early 30s with dark black hair and of caucasian appearance.
UPDATE: A gunman accused of breaking into buildings on the Captain Cook Highway early this morning remains at large as police patrol an inner search cordon north of the Barron River.
The gunman is described as being in his late 20s early 30s with dark black hair, of caucasian appearance with possible facial hair.
He was last seen wearing dark pants and no shirt and was in possession of a camouflage top.
It remains the police mission to take the man safely into custody.
Earlier the Rescue 510 helicopter was used to pinpoint the man’s location, now believed to be in sugar cane fields between the Captain Cook Highway and the Barron River.
UPDATE: Police have been tracking the movements of an armed man through cane fields west of the Captain Cook Highway in what police have described as a siege situation.
Specialist police negotiators are in communication with the man who remains at large in the vicinity of Dillon Rd.
“We believe we know where he is with specialist officers and everyone is in a holding pattern,” a police spokesman told the Cairns Post.
“We do have specialist police on the scene and it is a siege situation.
“The helicopter is providing aerial support, they’re in bushland and providing them with support.
“That’s the intention to resolve the situation peacefully. It’s not an American style situation, we are speaking with him and it has been going for quite some time and they will be endeavouring to resolve it when they can.”
EARLIER: Police are locked in a standoff with an armed man on the Captain Cook Highway, who at this point has refused to surrender himself to officers.
At 4.30am a man was confronted by police when attempting to break into a highway infrastructure facility.
Police allege the armed man then rammed a police car near the Yorkeys Knob roundabout.
Traffic from the south is being turned around at the Holloways Beach roundabout and from the north at the Yorkeys Knob turn off.
The Rescue 510 helicopter has been deployed to assist officers on the ground.
It’s alleged the man struck an officer and Queensland Ambulance Service has been required.
It’s understood the armed man’s car has been on fire which caused ammunition to explode in the vehicle.
The man is believed to be hiding in long grass near where Thomatis Creek intersects with the highway and has been firing shots.
Police are in communication with the man who at this stage has refused to lay down arms and surrender to police.
Cyclist Terry Gaut was riding his bike north back to Yorkeys Knob and was shocked to find heavily armed police blocking the highway.
“The copper said there was an incident up the road and we advise you not to go up there,” he said.
Police told a Cairns Post reporter “if you hear shots run”.
Residents are advised to stay indoors and avoid the area.
Originally published as Cairns armed siege: Gunman shot dead after 12-hour stand-off
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