Police charge Montel Thomas Lawnton with shooting on Alexandra St, Kawana

Police have accused a 24-year-old man of shooting his friend with a “highly modified” handgun, saying the pair were both lucky the alleged victim’s injuries were not worse.

Emergency services attended a property in Alexandra Street around 8.30pm following reports of gunshots.

Police have alleged a 31-year-old who survived a gunshot wound from a “highly modified” handgun was caught unaware because his accused shooter was his 24-year-old friend.

Montel Thomas Lawton has been accused by police of shooting his friend through the upper leg after the pair allegedly argued.

He has been charged with one count of acts intended to cause grievous bodily harm is due to appear in Rockhampton Magistrates Court.

Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Kevin Mawdsley said the alleged victim approached a vehicle to speak with Mr Lawton, not “expecting to get shot in the leg.”
“Evidence to us is that he was having what started as a normal conversation... and then it quickly turned south and escalated,” Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Mawdsley alleged.

Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Kevin Mawdsley

 
The alleged victim was discharged from hospital on Wednesday, December 4.
Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Mawdsley said both men were lucky that the man’s injuries were not more severe.

“The bullet went in and out and didn’t hit anything of importance, he was shot high up in the leg where the femoral artery is and it missed all of those key areas, so very fortunate,” he said.

Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Mawdsley said police had seized a “highly modified” handgun which they believe may have been used in the incident.
“It’s not a typical firearm that you would get at a gun shop,” he said.
“There’s obviously a black market for unlawful firearms.”
The gun will be sent to Brisbane for forensic examination.
Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Mawdsley said that community cooperation was the greatest assistance to police during their investigations, and he encouraged any alleged victims to come forward and make a formal statement.

Police have released an image of a man they believe can assist with investigations into a shooting incident on December 3 at Kawana in Rockhampton.

“For this particular incident, we had cooperation from a number of community members - some of those people wouldn’t ordinarily cooperate with us but because of how serious this offence was, they were cooperative with us,” he said.

He also praised local police and specialist police involved.

Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Mawdsley said encouraged anyone with information to contact police.

Police said the man was located at an address on south Rockhampton.

Mr Lawton physically appeared in the courtroom on a Return to Prison Warrant.

Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Mawdsley said police would refuse Mr Lawton’s bail, but he did not make a bail application.

Police are preparing briefs of evidence for all of Mr Lawton’s charges.

His matter was adjourned to February 12.

People can contact Policelink on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.