Gold Coast gunman shuts down Surfers Paradise; Highway closed

A young man celebrating his 18th birthday was last night shot in the arm following a noise dispute between hotel neighbours, in what police have labeled a “random” incident.

FILE PICTURE: Tyler LaRiviere via AP

A YOUNG man celebrating his 18th birthday was last night shot in the arm following a noise dispute between hotel neighbours, in what police have labeled a “random” incident.

It’s understood Hayden Miller was at the hotel in Surfers Paradise celebrating his birthday, before he was shot while standing on the balcony of the complex on the corner of Cavill Ave and the Gold Coast Hwy at 10.45pm.

Hayden Miller was shot while celebrating his 18th birthday.

Mr Miller was taken to the Gold Coast University Hospital, where he remains in a stable condition with his mother by his side.

A Queensland Police spokesman said police were still investigating to determine exactly what happened, but suggested the shooting may have come as a result of a loud music dispute.

“Early indications appear that there may have been loud music playing from the apartment and this happened as result,” he said.

The spokesman said early investigations suggest the 18-year-old man did not know the person responsible for the wounding.

Parts of Surfers Paradise were in lockdown for several hours following the incident, with an exclusion zone set up along the Gold Coast Hwy between Thomas Dve and Beach Road.

The highway reopened at 2.55am.

Police are appealing for anyone with information or dash cam vision from around the area to contact them on 131444 and quote this reference number: QP1901162794.