Inquest to be held into fatal police shooting of Benjamin Freear

An inquest is set to be held examining a police shooting that claimed the life of a father of four at Tiaro in 2019.

Tiaro man Ben Freear was shot and killed by police in Tiaro after he opened fire at his wife and children. Picture: Facebook

An inquest will be held next month into a police shooting that claimed the life of a father of four at Tiaro.

Benjamin Anthony Freear, 40, was shot dead by police after he opened fire on his estranged partner and their children at their family home in Tiaro on December 8, 2019.

The inquest, to be overseen by coroner Terry Ryan, will be held at Hervey Bay Courthouse from April 3 to 6.

It will examine the appropriateness of the police response to reported concerns about Mr Freear on December 7, 2019, as well as the appropriateness of the actions of attending police officers on the day of the shooting.

Tiaro man Ben Freear was shot by police.

During the incident, Mr Freear also fired shots at a neighbour and at police.

Mr Freear was then fatally shot in return fire by members of the Special Emergency Response Team and declared dead at the scene.

It was unclear how many shots he fired, but no one else was injured.

At the time the then Wide Bay Superintendent Craig Hawkins said it was fortunate no police officer had been killed or injured.