‘More with weapons wanting to confront police’: Steve Gollschewski voices fears after shooting

With Queensland having the highest number of police shootings in the country, Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski has spoken on what he finds “very concerning” about what officers face.

Queensland’s top cop has shared his fears that more people were willing to confront police with weapons, following the latest shooting of an armed man in Toowoomba.

It comes after revelations the 45-year-old man, who was shot by police at a North Toowoomba address on Monday night, was wanted over the alleged stabbing of a woman 24 hours earlier.

No charges have been laid.

The wanted man was shot in the chest about 5pm and was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries.

The incident prompted Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski to share his fears that more people were willing to confront police with weapons.

“I’m concerned that we are seeing more people with weapons, bladed weapons in particular, wanting to confront police in these types of situations,” he said

“It’s something that I’m very concerned about and looking at the numbers of shootings that we’ve had in recent years, there’s no particular trend … they tend to go up and down from year to year but we are seeing increased numbers of people with mental health issues involved.”

Steve Gollschewski said he was “very concerned” that there appeared to be more people with weapons wanting to confront police. Picture: Steve Pohlner

Asked why Queensland had the highest number of police shootings than other states or territories, Mr Gollschewski said: “That’s something we’re looking at very closely to see what the trends are.”

“You have to look at each individual (incident) on its merits,” he said.

Speaking at a press conference in Canberra, Queensland Police Union president Ian Leavers said the 45-year-old man allegedly stabbed a woman on Sunday.

“What we do know is on the previous day it was alleged he stabbed a female and was wanted in relation to that,” he said.

“We know that the male came out with two knives, and came towards a police officer who had no other alternative but to use his firearm.

“We are very lucky we have not had a police officer maimed or killed yesterday.

“If you threaten the life of a police officer they will use their firearms when required to protect their lives.”

Police at the scene in Toowoomba Monday night. Picture: Kevin Farmer

It is understood an officer from the Toowoomba Dog Squad was the first to discharge his firearm, before retreating until backup arrived.

The man is alleged to have gone back into his home and thrown objects at police, before a second officer shot him.

He then surrendered. No charges have been laid.

Mr Leavers said one of the officers was injured after they were hit by an object allegedly thrown from the house, while the second officer was injured when he fell “quite a distance” while jumping the back fence.

He said police rendered first aid as soon as the man surrendered.

Speaking about body-worn footage of a recent shooting in Townsville, Mr Gollschewski said “just the rapidness of how that unfolded and how quickly police had to make a decision was quite confronting”.

Witnesses to the Toowoomba incident captured the moments two police officers walk up steps as two more police officers make their way along the fence line of a Ruthven St property, holding up firearms.

Police could be heard yelling “armed police” and “don’t move” at an alleged knife-wielding man.

The man filming the video could be heard saying “they’re shooting” and “holy s**t”.

“Yeah they are shooting full on guns,” another man said.

“Let’s get inside, I’d rather not be out here.”

Police are believed to have attempted to use a taser before resorting to a firearm.

The QPS Ethical Standards command has been tasked to investigate the shooting.