Aubrey Donahue shot dead by police at Mareeba

The mother of a man shot dead by police in far north Queensland has spoken at a community meeting, saying she wants answers.

Aubrey Donahue’s mother Desley at a community meeting in Mareeba on Sunday. Picture: Brendan Radke

The mother of a man shot dead by police in Mareeba on Saturday says she wants answers.

Aubrey Donahue died following a four-hour siege at a Love St home, with police resopnding to an alleged domestic violence incident.

Police say Donahue was shot when he came at officers with a knife but his family are demanding to see body camera footage of the moments leading up to his death.

Donahue’s mother Desley spoke at a meeting in the far north Queensland town on Sunday.

Police remained at the scene of the shooting on Sunday. Picture: Brendan Radke

“My son has got bullet holes in his body. I’m his mother, and they (police) aren’t telling me anything,” she said.

“I thank you all for coming. I don’t know what me and my kids would do without your support. “

About 100 people from the community attended the meeting, which was addressed by Acting Far North Police District Superintendent Kevin Goan, and attended by senior investigator for the QPS Ethical Standards Command Lisa Scully who he said has responsibility over the “tragic” shooting.

Superintendent Goan said it would be improper to discuss anything surrounding what occurred on Saturday and that all information about the shooting, including body cam footage, was property of the coroner.

Police at the community meeting in Mareeba. Picture: Brendan Radke

“I will not be talking to you or answering questions about the whys and wherefores of what happened yesterday, is that understood?” he said.

He said that the decision to pursue an independent investigation into Mr Donahue’s death was up to the family.

“The information that is given by the investigative team to the coroner will be available to the barristers and legal representatives of the family and they can make the application for that.”

Community members described Mr Donahue as the soul of the community and questioned why a specialist force was not capable of firing a non-fatal shot.

“I can’t comment on that other than to say these are very important questions ... these are the questions that need to be presented to the coroner.”

Earlier, Victoria Van Schie, a relative of the 28-year-old Donahue, claimed police “shot to kill, not to subdue” instead of de-escalating a mental health call out.

“Our beautiful boy is gone,” she said.

Detective Inspector Lisa Scully and Acting Superintendent Kevin Goan address the community. Picture: Brendan Radke

“There was no DV situation as has been reported to date ... we want police to release the body cam footage to us, we will review it,” she said.

“He had his whole life ahead of him and it’s been stolen.”

A woman who lived near the scene of the shooting told The Courier-Mail she had been scared.

“There were three gunshots, around 3.30pm. We heard a lady screaming, saying ‘They shot my son’,” she said.

“The emotions were really bad, other people were swearing at the cops. We had never heard people swearing at the cops like that.

“I was scared.”