West Mackay police shooting: Memorial service for victim Andrew White

In the days before his tragic death in a police shooting, a 24 year old regularly posted about his Catholic faith and the need for compassion in dealing with the mentally ill.

Andrew White was tragically killed in a police shooting incident in West Mackay on November 21.

Loved ones will hold a memorial service for Andrew White, who tragically died in a police shooting incident in West Mackay.

Officers were called to a Bridge Rd unit to help paramedics, who were responding to a mental health callout about 2.30pm on November 21.

Mr White had been in distress and holding what was believed to be a broken bottle before arming himself with a firearm and pointing it at police.

Officers tried negotiating with the 24 year old to drop the weapon but Police Union boss Ian Leavers said Mr White continued walking towards them.

Mackay police cordoned off streets after a man was fatally shot at a property onBridge Rd on Monday, November 21, 2022 which resulted in officers shooting a man. Picture: Heidi Petith

As a result the two experienced officers – a detective senior constable and plain clothes constable – were forced to use their weapons.

“Police have immediately rendered first aid and did all they possibly could to assist this male person,” Mr Leavers said the day after the shooting.

Mr White was rushed to nearby Mackay Base Hospital but tragically died soon after.

It is understood the young man was well known to the Mackay mental health unit and had interactions with them.

“This is a very sad case but just shows the difficult and dangerous nature of police work,” Mr Leavers had said.

“When police have been called to assist paramedics, they’ve been confronted by a man with a weapon, who has then come out of his unit with a firearm pointed at police, had disregarded warning of police and police have been forced to use their firearm.”

Police are investigating after a 24-year-old Mackay man was fatally shot following a routine wellness check. Photo: Mitchell Dyer

Mr White would have turned 25 years old on December 2 and was described as a dearly loved son, brother, grandson, nephew and cousin.

A memorial service for family and friends will be held next week – in lieu of flowers his loved ones are requesting a donation be made to the St Vincent de Paul Vinnies Christmas Appeal.

PLEA FOR COMPASSION ON MENTAL HEALTH

In the days before his tragic death, Mr White posted regularly about his faith, the need for support for those battling mental illness and sometimes lamented about the state of the church.

Ashwin Acharya, a priest at Rockhampton, posted on Mr White’s page after his death, praising his ‘wonderful faith and affinity with Christ’.

“Thank you for the walk we've shared, which, while only a few years, continues, even into eternity. Pray for us, dear brother; we are praying for you. Rest now in peace.”

Throughout November, Mr White posted frequently, sharing his thoughts on church teachings and sometimes the failings of Christians.

“I am in a situation with my illness where I am dependent on more compassion than the average person. And quite often I feel, people’s hearts turn to judgment and reservation rather than compassion,’’ he wrote.

“It is very easy for someone in my position to sift the chaff from the wheat, the Christians from those who only aspire to be.”

“In my local experience of faith, we as a Church are dead … And not because of the diminishing number of people who frequent the Sacraments either. But because of how ripe we are with the potential to do God’s will on earth (to free the captive, heal the sick, console the poor, tend to God’s creation, cry out for justice with the injured parties, form the formless, love our enemies, stand with the victims, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, sow the virtue of peace, etc!).

Andrew White was tragically killed in a police shooting incident in West Mackay on November 21.

PRAISE FOR THE INDIGENOUS SPIRITUALITY

Mr White also paid tribute to the spiritual understanding of Australia’s first inhabitants.

“Having spent some time recently with an Indigenous Australian who was kind enough to illuminate some of the First Nation’s cultural beliefs and heritage I have come to a new-found respect and interest for the spirituality of the Indigenous people,’’ he posted.

“For example, there is great respect for the inhabitants of the land; both sacred and some of which that are not so sacred.

“There is a great line of tradition that the Indigenous have with the land and its inhabitants dwelling together in harmony. These people have dwelled in harmony with the land for a very very long time and I might add that it was not a lax or easy living either. My friend was explaining to me his very real respect for the sacred things of this country which has resulted in a deeply embedded culture of spirituality and quite a rigorous and lore-filled living.”

POPE FRANCIS’ LOVE

Mr White was passionate about highlighting the efforts of those helping the downtrodden, including Catholic leaders.

“It is awe-inspiring to see how attentive Pope Francis is to God’s people. I saw a snippet of Francis being pushed around in a wheelchair today and it deeply moved me. To see the Pope leading the Church amidst the turmoil of a very rough sea both internally and externally with such determination and to do so from the frailty of a wheel Church is deeply humbling and awe-inspiring.”