Qld crime: Ilbilbie motel shooting by police defended by union

Queensland’s police union has defended the use of lethal force in a drug operation gone wrong saying the NSW man shot dead could have caused multiple police fatalities at close range as officers approached him.

Queensland’s police union has alleged the New South Wales man officers had been attempting to arrest at an Ilbilbie motel had “produced a firearm with the intention of using it at close range” leaving no option but to use lethal force.

QPS Union vice president Detective Senior Constable Shane Prior said incident showed the work environment was “becoming more dangerous and more unpredictable”.

John William Roche, 39, was shot dead about 11am Monday after police from the Mackay district arrived at the Country View Motel as part of a targeted drug operation.

“We will allege the man we were attempting to arrest today instead of complying with our direction produced a firearm with the intention of using it at close range and killing a Queensland police officer,” Detective Senior Constable Prior said.

“The reality of this situation is very simple. The offender’s firearm was so close to police during that incident that if police that if that firearm did go off we may well have been talking today about multiple police casualties.”

Multiple police crews are on scene at a motel in Ilbilbie where a 39-year-old man died in a police shooting incident on February 12, 2024. Picture: Fergus Gregg

Detective Senior Constable Prior said the officers were extremely experienced and had a “genuine fear for not only their safety but for the safety of their colleagues around them”.

“This incident is an example of the unpredictability that our frontline police face every single day when a situation can rapidly turn life threatening,” he said.

Officers ‘had no choice’

Detective Senior Constable Prior did not answer questions about why Roche was at the motel if officers had been conducting a drug raid, instead saying “these details all form part of the investigation that the coroner and both Ethical Standards Command will complete”.

“I expect in the fullness of time those details will be made available,” Detective Senior Constable Prior said.

“Our police there today had no other choice but to use lethal use of force option.

“Police never want to use their firearm in the line of duty and this moment will stay with them for the rest of their lives.”

Vice President of the Queensland Police Union Detective Senior Constable Shane Prior. Picture: Evan Morgan

Superintendent Graeme Paine on Monday said police were at the motel conducting “targeted operations” in relation to Roche, who was last registered at a NSW address and wanted on “a number of matters”.

Police arrived at the Greenhill site about 10.30am and saw Roche entering a vehicle.

Superintendent Paine said when officers approached Roche to arrest him, he allegedly produced a firearm.

“During the process officers subsequently discharged their firearms striking the male.”

Superintendent Paine said police immediately undertook medical assistance, but the man died at the scene.

“We’ll conduct a thorough investigation through our ethical standards command and it’ll be reviewed by the CCC.

“We’ll look at every stage of the process.”

Officers are on scene at a fatal police shooting at Ilbilbie on February 12, 2024. Picture: Fergus Gregg

Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll said it had not yet been confirmed what kind of weapon Roche had brandished, nor if police had tried to disarm him using another method first.

No officers have been stood down and police are preparing a report for the coroner.

Superintendent Paine said the use of force by police is heavily scrutinised.

“Every single matter is investigated individually.

“The evidence to date doesn’t indicate any linkage between other matters.”

Multiple police crews are on scene at a motel in Ilbilbie where a 39-year-old man died in a police shooting incident on February 12, 2024. Picture: Fergus Gregg

Four shootings in 17 months

This is the fourth fatal police shooting in the Mackay district since October 2022 and comes barely two months after David Dowker was fatally shot at a Bowen motel.

Detective Senior Constable Prior said it was concerning police had to deal with these incidents more often.

“What’s more concerning is that our environment that we’re operating in day in and day out is becoming more dangerous,” he said.

Emergency services were called to the North Australian Motel in Herbert St about 5.30am on December 14, 2024 following reports 58-year-old Dowker had been naked and acting erratically.

The North Australian Motel, Bowen, where a man was fatally shot by Police. Picture: Estelle Sanchez.

While paramedics were dealing with him it is understood he armed himself with a large cane knife and as a result police were called.

Dowker approached officers while armed, he was told to drop the knife and refused. As a result one of the officers discharged his firearm, striking him in the chest and he died at the scene.

On November 21, 2022 Andrew White was fatally shot after officers were called to a Bridge Rd unit to help paramedics, who were responding to a mental health call-out about 2.30pm.

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 Mr White continued walking towards them.

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

And in the early hours of October 1, 2022 Luke Gilbert was shot dead following an incident at Airlie Beach.

Police shot the 24 year old over claims he moved forward while armed with a knife about 12.20am in the tourism centre’s main street.

Officers fired three times at Mr Gilbert.