Man, woman shot dead at home in Albany Creek north of Brisbane
The man police say shot his elderly aunt a number of times in front of his mother before turning the gun on himself in a suspected murder suicide at Albany Creek has been identified.
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Police say a man shot his aunt a number of times in front of his mother before turning the gun on himself in a suspected murder-suicide at a home in Albany Creek.
The man has been identified as 46-year-old Martin Fowler and the deceased woman was his 77-year-old aunty Lois Witt.
Brisbane Regional Crime Coordinator Detective Acting Superintendent Craig Williams on Monday confirmed police had been to the Jambaroo St property “a number of times” in “the days preceding” the murder suicide.
He said only three people had been living in the home.
Superintendent Williams said Fowler was a licensed firearms holder and had shot his aunty a number of times with a registered handgun before shooting himself.
A neighbour reported hearing shots fired at the property shortly after 5pm on Sunday, with police declaring a crime scene about 5.30pm after the grisly discovery.
Supt Williams said there were no domestic violence orders in place between the three people at the property.
“There had been an altercation, was our initial information,” he said.
“So far the investigation has revealed that the male person was the son of the unharmed female in the house. He was a 46-year-old male.
“The deceased female was his aunty and she was 77 years old.
“At this stage of the investigation, it appears that the male person, who had a registered firearms licence, has used a handgun that was registered to him to discharge a number of shots which has killed the 77-year-old female.
“He then used the firearm on himself and was deceased at the scene.”
He said the man’s mother, an 88-year-old woman, was assisting police with their investigation.
A Queensland Ambulance Service spokeswoman said a person at the scene on Sunday was treated for emotional distress.
“This is a tragic incident and we are assisting the family to the best of our ability,” Det Supt Williams said.
“Police had attended the scene a number of times and had dealings with both parties in the preceding week.”
Asked whether the man should have had his weapons removed given the presence of police at the home on multiple occasions, Det Supt Williams said: “It would be inappropriate for me to comment on that.”
Investigators on Sunday night appealed for anyone with information to come forward, saying there was not threat to the community.
A neighbour who did not want to be named said an ambulance and police were called to the address earlier last week.
“I think it was Wednesday the cops were here, and then Thursday there were police and ambulance at the front,” the neighbour said.
“I drove past and he was having a heated discussion with the police and he had his shirt off … bit of a strange dude.”
The property was a largely boarded-up dwelling and silver covering material could be seen on some windows.
Miscellaneous items including two trailers, a ladder, and various items could be seen around the exterior of the property.
A 2020 LDV G10 wagon was parked in the driveway and a 2006 Nissan Navara Dual Cab across the lawn.
A resident of a nearby street said the occupants of the dwelling had been long-term residents.
“They have been here as long as I’ve been here, for at least 20 years,” he said.
“I always walk past the house, but I’ve never spoken to them, there is always someone at the front.
“One is always yelling at another.”
The neighbour said the house has always seemed closed off.
“The house has always been boarded up, you never see anyone go in and out,” he said.
“There is always junk everywhere.
“The air conditioner is always running and there is al foil on the windows.
“It’s all a bit weird really.”
Resident Cherise Loader said she frequently saw a woman and a man walking their dog from the property.
“They would walk their dogs every single day,” Ms Loader said.
“There was a few times there was police back and forth, and there were ambulances as well.”
A police spokesperson confirmed an investigation was under way.
Information to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or Policelink on 131 444.
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