Fatal police shooting: Man shot several times in chest

A 52-year-old man shot dead by police in Townsville after rushing at officers with knives has been identified as an army veteran.

Police at the scene of the fatal shooting in Townsville. Picture: Caitlan Charles

A 52-year-old man fatally shot by Townsville police has been identified as army veteran, Steven Angus.

Police were called to a Bel Air Ave address in Kirwan at approximately 4.40pm following reports a man had threatened to self harm.

Townsville District Acting Chief Superintendent Chris Lawson said the man rushed at police with knives within 15 minutes of crews arriving on Friday afternoon.

“And as a result police fired their service firearms at the male, hitting the male, and as soon as he was hit first aid was provided and unfortunately a short time later, after the arrival of QAS, he was pronounced deceased,” Superintendent Lawson said.

“All of this incident was caught on body-worn camera footage, so that footage will be available to the coroner and Ethical Standards Command as they do their investigation.”

Police at the scene of the fatal shooting in Townsville. Picture: Caitlan Charles

Superintendent Lawson said about five officers initially responded, which included an acting sergeant and a number of constables and senior constables.

“So they’re people who do have some level of service, but they’re also people involved with very junior service as well, so we are providing support across all ranges to those individuals involved.”

Superintendent Lawson defended his officers’ actions, saying he believed they acted appropriately.

“Our use of force policy is very clear, you use whatever use of force you consider necessary to resolve the incident, and at the minimum level possible.

“At this stage I’m confident... the officers acted appropriately.

“Obviously our thoughts go out to the family involved because we don’t want to see people being hurt and we don’t want to see people die, we want to resolve these incidents as peacefully as possible and our thoughts are with the family.

“It’s an obviously very distressing time for the family at the moment but police will continue to provide the support and updates to the process as it all goes through.”

Police at the scene of the fatal shooting in Townsville. Picture: 7 News

Police were involved in a siege with the man on Thursday night which was de-escalated.

It’s understood the man was taken to Townsville University Hospital after the incident where he remained for some time, but he returned home.

No one else was inside the home with Mr Angus at the time of the shooting.

Neighbours reported hearing four or five shots, while television news outlets reported the man was shot in the chest several times.

Neighbour Colin Nganja said the street was normally a quiet one.

“When we heard the shots ring out we were shocked,” he said.

“There were police at the same house yesterday afternoon as well but I have no idea what happened.”

A crime scene has been declared and police investigations are continuing.

Circumstances surrounding the incident will be investigated by the Ethical Standards Command on behalf of the State Coroner, and the investigation is subject to oversight by the Crime and Corruption Commission.

The Ethical Standards Command arrived in Townsville on Saturday morning.

Queensland Police Union president Ian Leavers said: “We are very lucky we don’t have a number of police murdered as a result of this incident.

“Police never want to use their firearm, and this will have an impact on the officers involved for the rest of their lives.

“The QPU are supporting the officers involved and this matter appropriately will be investigated by Ethical Standards on behalf of the coroner.

“My thoughts are with the frontline police from Townsville who are doing a great job in trying circumstances.”

The Kirwan man’s death is the sixth fatal police shooting since October last year when Luke Gilbert was shot in Airlie Beach.

Police said that on October 1 officers opened fire after the 24-year-old “advanced on” them with a knife on Shute Harbour Road.

Ten days later in South Brisbane police fatally shot a man who had fallen through the ceiling of a South Brisbane business when officers were called to the scene.

Police unsuccessfully tried to taser the man in his 30s before shooting him three times outside of The Greek Club on Edmondstone St.

Then on November 21, in West Mackay, police attended an address on Bridge Street around 2.30pm following reports a man had threatened self-harm.

According to police, officers were confronted by a 24-year-old man allegedly armed with a firearm before he advanced at them and was subsequently shot just after 5pm.

In Wieambilla on the night of December 12, good Samaritan Alan Dare and Constables Matthew Arnold, 26, and Rachel McCrow, 29, were murdered by married couple Gareth and Stacey Train, as well as Gareth’s brother Nathaniel.

Police initially arrived at the Western Downs home for a routine missing persons inquiry when they were shot at.

The Trains were then killed during a lengthy shootout with the highly trained Special Emergency Response Team (SERT).

Most recently, Aubrey Donahue was fatally shot by SERT in Mareeba on March 25 this year after a lengthy siege.

Police responded to reports Mr Donahue threatened self-harm and it’s alleged he was not allowing his girlfriend to leave the house.

The shooting caused unrest in the Far North town with community members protesting his death saying it could have been avoided if dealt with by culturally appropriate negotiators or officers that had a personal relationship with Mr Donahue.