Police investigating shooting death of Peter James Stevens

The “intimate” relationship between a fatally wounded Qld dad and the two people who claim he died by suicide is being investigated as new details emerge.

A senior detective investigating the suspected gunshot death of 43-year-old father Peter James Stevens says police are keeping an “open mind” about what happened before police found him “screaming for help”.

It comes amid a probe into whether a love triangle existed between Mr Stevens, and a 30-year-old woman and another man who were at the scene when he died.

Speaking to reporters in Maryborough on Wednesday, Detective Inspector Craig Mansfield said any “personal, intimate” relationship between the three would be examined, as well as the “mechanism” of Mr Stevens’ injury/injuries.

Police were first called to a property at Dundas St, near the Mary River at Granville about 5.15am Tuesday.

While it was initially alleged that Mr Stevens’ died by suicide, police have opened an investigation to determine whether that was the case.

Det Mansfield said police had received a triple-0 call and had responded to the address in Granville where Mr Stevens was found in an area near a caravan in a “distressed state... screaming for help”.

Police commenced CPR, Det Insp Mansfield said, and paramedics responded soon after, but Mr Stevens died at the scene.

“During the early investigations, it was reported to police that that male had sustained self-inflicted injuries from a firearm,” Det Insp Mansfield said.

“We are still investigating at this current time to determine if that is factually correct.”

Maryborough has been rocked by the sudden death of young father Peter James Stevens, whose body has been found near the Mary River at Granville.

Describing the scene as “complex”, Det Insp Mansfield said police a homemade small .22 calibre firearm “made out of pipes” had been recovered about a metre from Mr Stevens’ body.

He said it was not immediately obvious where he had been shot or how many times.

“There have been various versions provided by witnesses,” he said.

“We’re just trying to keep an open mind.”

Explaining any firearm-related death was regarded by police as “serious”, Det Insp Mansfield said the man and woman at the address, who had reported the injuries as being self-inflicted, were both known to Mr Stevens and all three had previous dealings with police.

“So, we’re just working out the circumstances of who was there at the time, as well as the mechanisms of the injury, which aren’t early identifiable at this point in time, until a post-mortem has been conducted,” he said, adding that CCTV checks and other inquiries would be made to establish the movements of all three parties before the incident.

“We’re really trying to work out these people’s relationship to each... we do know they are all known to each other.

“So, we’re conducting our investigations as far as phone inquiries and the like to determine exactly what happened.”

Mr Stevens’ body has since been taken to Brisbane for a post-mortem examination.

A fourth man was also arrested at the scene as part of an unrelated drug investigation but is not alleged to have been involved in the love triangle.

Maryborough has been rocked by the sudden death of father Peter James Stevens, whose body has been found near the Mary River at Granville.

‘HEART IS SHATTERED’: TRIBUTE TO DAD AFTER SHOCK DEATH

His best friend Charly Elliott on Wednesday described Mr Stevens as a “beautiful soul” and “a loving father of two boys”.

“He was funny, kind, would go out of his way for anyone,” she said on Wednesday.

“He was a good person. And loved by so many. He will be remembered for his beautiful soul, that touched so many hearts everywhere he went.

“We had so many plans, now I’ve got to continue my life without him.”

“He was my best friend, and I’ll never get over this. My heart is shattered, and it will ache for him forever.”

Maryborough has been rocked by the sudden and potentially suspicious death of young father Peter James Stevens, whose body has been found near the Mary River at Granville. Police have set up on Dundas Road near where Mr Steven's body was found.

Jade Broadfoot commented on Facebook “ … he was so beautiful and had a beautiful soul.”

“I’m going to miss him heaps.”

The Granville boat ramp is located in Dundas Street near the Mary River, in a quiet residential neighbourhood with lots of families.

Police have blocked the road that leads down to the road ramp and have set up a police beat station on the side of the road at the scene.

Maryborough has been rocked by the sudden and potentially suspicious death of young father Peter James Stevens, whose body has been found near the Mary River at Granville. Police have set up on Dundas Road near where Mr Steven's body was found.

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