Police charge man in connection with Harristown shooting
Police have charged a 39-year-old man following a shooting in Harristown last weekend. See the full list of charges here.
Toowoomba
Don't miss out on the headlines from Toowoomba. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Police raided a Toowoomba home on Monday night and have now charged a 39-year-old man following a “firearm” incident in Harristown on May 6.
He has been charged with one count of going armed so as to cause fear, and one count of unlawful use of a motor vehicle.
Police also charged him with five counts of stealing, three other counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle, two counts of receiving stolen property, one count of burglary and five counts of driving while disqualified.
He was denied bail by police and will appear in Toowoomba Magistrates Court on May 11.
Officers patrolling Toowoomba observed a man allegedly driving a stolen Mitsubishi SUV about 2pm on Friday, May 6.
They tracked the vehicle to Dempsey Court where the driver allegedly fired several pistol rounds, striking the officer’s vehicle.
The police officers returned fire and struck a male passenger before the men fled.
A Beelbee Street woman, who chose to remain anonymous, said the situation was “scary and full on”.
“You hear sirens all the time here in Toowoomba, but it sounded like a jet was landing (with) the roaring of the cars chasing each other through the street,” she said.
“They came flying around the corner – I thought there must have been a crash on the corner too.
“It was so loud.”
Shots fired by suspected thieves shattered the police vehicle’s driver-side window, causing it to dislodge and break during the chase.
The woman said officers quickly alerted residents to the situation.
“They told us we were in lockdown and to stay in,” she said.
“It’s normally a very quiet street, but it was 9.45pm when they all left and opened up the roads again.”
Police from across South East Queensland swarmed on Toowoomba, including a Polair chopper crew and officers from the Special Emergency Response Team.
The wounded passenger presented to the Toowoomba Hospital claiming he had suffered stab wounds.
This was quickly debunked and the man was placed under police guard while the hospital staff treated his injuries. He has since been released without charge but detectives continue to investigate his involvement.
A Dempsey Street woman, who also wished to remain anonymous, said she was unaware of the situation happening outside her door.
“I was watching a cop show at the time,” she said.
“The police told me to stay inside, but they wouldn’t tell me what was going on.
“It wasn’t until the next morning I read the report about the shooting.
“The guy could have been hiding in my backyard and I wouldn’t have known.
“It’s quite scary.”
The woman said 18 years ago the area was notorious for drugs and violence.
“It has changed a lot since, but the left overs are still here.”
No police officers were injured in the incident.
QPS Ethical Standards Command will probe the officers’ use of their firearms.
Anyone with information about the offender or his location should phone Policelink on 131 000 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
This includes anyone who may have dashcam footage of the Mitzubishi.
More Coverage
Originally published as Police charge man in connection with Harristown shooting
Drunk ogre pelts 1yo son, chokes mother as other kids watch on
A brutish father mercilessly strangled his partner while she held their terrified young son, who he had just attacked, in her arms.
Read more
‘Limitless’: Teen’s bid to see as much as possible before going blind
From climbing Everest Base Camp to competing in triathlons, why losing his sight hasn’t stopped this teen from chasing his goals.
Read more