Kilkivan residents say ‘everyone knows’ family involved in shock alleged homicide, police shooting
The identities of a man killed in an alleged stabbing, and his nephew who was shot by police in an extraordinary series of events near Gympie have been revealed. LATEST DETAILS
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A 55-year-old man confined to a mobility scooter and his 42-year-old nephew have been revealed as the two people involved in an alleged stabbing at Kilkivan which left one man dead and the other fighting for his life after being shot by police.
Paul Mann, 55, died after allegedly being stabbed by his nephew James Neale at the property they shared about 50km west of Gympie on the afternoon of Friday, April 12, 2024.
Police allege a local police officer had no choice but to fire his gun after being called to the family dispute by a health worker about 3pm that day.
Mr Neale was shot once in the chest after he allegedly ran at the police officer, and flown to the Sunshine Coast University Hospital in a critical condition.
A hospital spokeswoman said Monday the 42-year-old remained “in a serious but stable condition”.
No charges have been laid over the incident and police are yet to speak with Mr Neale.
Speaking to this publication on Saturday, Kilkivan’s Kaiya Fowle said as with most small towns “everyone knows everyone”.
“Everyone knows them around town,” she said.
“It was a complete shock.
“To learn that there’s someone being stabbed … and someone else (allegedly) needed to be shot, it’s going to take a little bit to sink in.
“It’s just not our town at all … it’s a beautiful, friendly little town.”
Speaking to reporters in Gympie on Saturday, Detective Acting Superintendent Paul Algie said a health care worker had first attended the rural property on Running Creek Rd, about 2km out of Kilkivan and called police for assistance about 3pm Friday.
A single officer from the Kilkivan station, understood to be a senior constable with more than 10 years’ experience and a young family, attended and was allegedly confronted with a critically-injured Mr Mann, who died at the scene.
Mr Neale is then alleged to have run at the officer armed with a knife.
“The police officer attempted to retreat and negotiate with the man and did that for an extended period of time … unfortunately he was left with no further action but to fire his service pistol,” Det Algie alleged.
“He shot (Mr Neale) once in the chest and then went to his aid immediately to provide first aid as per his training.
“Upon arrival from back up police, his colleagues and friends from Goomeri, assisted in first aid for not only the suspect but the man who had been stabbed initially.”
Det Algie described the incident as an “unusual set of circumstances” and said he had “been in this district since 2017 and I can confirm that nothing like this has occurred in that community in the time that I’ve been in the area”.
He confirmed the family was known to police but in the context of being part of a small community and not because police had ever been previously called out to the property for emergencies or complaints.
Queensland Police Union President Ian Leavers also spoke to reporters in Gympie where he said an “an investigation centre has been established at Gympie police station involving the homicide police investigation unit, local detectives and the Ethical Standards Command”.
“This is every police officer’s worst nightmare,” he said.
“It’s a country town, he’s a country police officer, turning up to call for service to assist the Queensland Ambulance Service on his own, and he’s confronted where suddenly he has to fend for his life.
“So, this will not only affect him and his colleagues in country police stations right around the state of Queensland, but it will also affect the tight-knit community in Kilkivan and this will be very difficult for the town.”
Mr Leavers said he was “thankful” the policeman, whose colleagues had “full faith in him (and) say he’s very measured … very balanced, respected within the community” was not fighting for his own life in hospital.
“We have a wife and children who are struggling at a point in time knowing that they could have lost their loved one who simply did nothing else than turn up to work, do his job to protect his community,” he said.
“One thing I’ll give credit to my colleague, is as soon as he used his firearm, he did whatever he could to preserve the life of the person who was (allegedly) trying to take his life. He rendered immediate first aid. And when his other colleagues arrived they did all they possibly could.
“And we can see that the person who (allegedly) threatened the life of my colleague is in hospital at the moment receiving treatment.
“So it’s ironic as a police officer, someone tries to take your life, you stop them and then you do all you possibly can to preserve their life. “That just shows the professionalism and what is going through the mind of a police officer in a very traumatic and a difficult circumstance.”
Investigations are continuing.
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