Police shot woman after she threatened them with a knife at West End Hotel, Townsville
QPS is working with the family of a teenager who was shot by officers in Townsville as more details about the incident emerge. LATEST
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The Queensland Police Union president believes the police involved in the shooting of a 17-year-old girl at a Townsville pub should receive bravery awards.
The teenager, who was shot by police at a Townsville pub on Tuesday night, was hiding in the beer garden when she lunged at an officer with a large knife.
Queensland Police Union President Shane Prior said two male police were called to the West End Hotel just before 5.30pm and were met with a “life threatening situation”.
“I’m told officers walked into the beer garden of that hotel and a female offender lunged at an officer from a hidden location with a large knife,” he said.
“A second officer, fearing for his life and the life of his colleague, being in mortal danger, fired a single shot at that offender.”
The 17-year-old was shot once in the abdomen and officers administered first aid immediately.
On Wednesday morning the woman was in a stable condition at the Townsville University Hospital.
“I’m confident the action that police took prevented patrons at the hotel from being harmed or possibly murdered and they should be given bravery awards for the efforts that they have gone to yesterday,” Mr Prior said.
“That officer yesterday did not go to work thinking that he would be using his firearm against a 17-year-old female and this incident is going to stay with that officer for the rest of their lives.”
Chief Superintendent Graeme Paine said when police officers arrived at the pub, they entered through the back.
The officers – a male constable, a female constable and a male sergeant – were approached by the “17-year-old, caucasian female” with a “large knife” and the officers “presented use of force options’.
He said the teen continued to come towards the officers in the “confined space” where an officer discharged a “single shot” from a firearm.
“It’s a very, very sad incident to see this happen, especially to a 17-year-old,” Mr Paine said.
“This type of incident is really, really challenging for police. We will provide support to the officers, will provide to the families of the officers.”
Mr Paine said the police have engaged with the family of the teenager and would continue to provide support to them.
He said whether the teenager had the knife before entering the West End Hotel or if she grabbed it while inside is part of the ongoing investigation.
When asked about if mental health was the cause of the incident, Mr Paine said police would conduct a “holistic” investigation.
“We will look at all aspects in relation to any dealings we may have had with someone in any capacity,” he said.
“I don’t want to make any comment or any determination as to those types of factors at this stage …”
Mr Paine would not disclose when asked if the 17-year-old was already known to police.
“I won’t get into whether we had dealings in the past or not,” he said.
“That’ll form part of the investigation.”
The incident was captured on a body worn camera worn by an officer, pub CCTV footage and was witnessed by pub patrons.
Police shoot 17yo armed with knife at Townsville pub
A teenager has been shot by police in Townsville at the West End Hotel after she threatened officers with a knife.
Police responded to an incident at the pub just before 5.30pm, with at least 10 police cars seen outside the pub on Ingham Rd.
Police said the 17-year-old was armed with a knife and “came at police”. She was shot in the abdomen.
On Wednesday morning, the woman was in a stable condition at the Townsville University Hospital.
Police administered first aid at the scene before she was taken to hospital for treatment.
A crime scene has been declared and investigations are continuing.
The Ethical Standards Command is investigating the incident with the investigation subject to oversight by the Crime and Corruption Commission.
Police Minister Dan Purdie said ESC was already on the ground in Townsville.
“This matter is currently being investigated, and we’ll wait for the results of that thorough investigation,” Mr Purdie said.
Witnesses heard an officer tell a woman to stop, they then saw her step forward towards the police with a ‘carving knife’.
The witness says they then heard a gunshot.
“I was no more than three or four metres. I was very close. I just heard the police telling her to stop, telling her to stop, then the gun shot,” another witness, Joanne Aldous, said.
“I heard police telling her to stop, she had a knife – like a carving knife or something, and she kept moving towards the female cop and then they shot.”
Patrons could still be seen inside the pub.
Townsville police had cordoned off the beer garden while an investigation took place.
In January this year, Liam Joseph Nathan was charged with serious assault of a police officer after he was shot by police in Vincent.
He was charged with two counts of serious assault of a police officer while armed with a weapon, after it was alleged he threatened officers with a large knife at a home on Lillipilli St.
Police said they attended the address following reports from the man’s family that he was making threats to them during a mental health incident.
As officers assisted an elderly woman out of the home, it is alleged the 23-year-old Kirwan man lunged at them with the knife.
A first year male constable fired off three shots, with one bullet hitting Mr Nathan in the chest. Police rendered first aid before he was taken to hospital for treatment.
In July last year, police used lethal force on a knife-wielding man outside the Kirwan Police Station.
When two male constables confronted the Cranbrook man, they were threatened with a weapon and the officers produced a taser and a firearm. Both were fired simultaneously.
The man, who was not previously known to police, sustained two gunshot wounds. First aid was rendered immediately with Queensland Ambulance services also attending the scene.
Five months earlier, Marsat Misik, 26, was fatally shot in Mount Louisa after confronting police with a knife.
In April 2024, veteran Steven Angus was shot and killed by police in his backyard.
Armed with two knives, he charged at officers a day after being released from Townsville University Hospital, where he had been taken following an hours-long siege.
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