Police shot dead Townsville man hours after hospital discharge

A review will be undertaken into the circumstances surrounding the shooting death of a mentally ill man who had just been released from hospital, as the police union slams Queensland Health.

A review will be undertaken into the circumstances surrounding the death of a Townsville man who was shot by police just hours after his release from hospital.

The Kirwan shooting on Friday night occurred just a day after police spent two hours negotiating with the same man in a siege situation on Bel Air Ave, before he surrendered and was admitted to Townsville University Hospital.

Townsville’s Hospital and Health Service chief avoided answering a string of questions on the shocking timeline of events and the hospital’s decision to discharge Steven Angus, 52, after the lengthy siege. Just hours after his release, Mr Angus would be dead.

Mr Angus, a veteran, called police on Friday afternoon threatening to harm himself.

Within 15 minutes of police arriving, Mr Angus ran at them armed with knives.

A senior officer at the scene shot him multiple times before performing first aid, but he couldn’t be saved.

Steven Angus was fatally shot by police at a Kirwan house on Friday.

Townsville Hospital and Health Service chief executive Kieran Keyes confirmed a “comprehensive clinical review will be completed by the health service to determine what learnings or actions may result from this tragic incident”.

“However, I am unable to provide any details due to patient confidentiality,” Mr Keyes said.

“As the matter is under investigation by the Queensland Police Service, it would be inappropriate for me to comment further.”

Queensland Police Union president Ian Leavers earlier on Sunday called for an investigation into the hospital’s actions.

“This person should have been in hospital receiving the appropriate care and treatment,” Mr Leavers said from Townsville on Sunday.

“What I will suggest is that this person should still be alive, had professional care been given.”

Mr Leavers said there should be an “immediate investigation” into the Townsville Hospital to understand why Mr Angus was released.

Queensland Police Union president Ian Leavers. Picture: Brad Fleet

“The QPU is calling on a full Health Department Review into Townsville Hospital that resulted in a Kirwan man being released from care and a short time later threatening police with bladed weapons,” he said.

“After police took this man to hospital for emergency mental health management, he was bizarrely almost immediately released by Queensland Health and was back in the community before officers had even completed the paperwork on why he needed emergency care.

“Whether it’s a lack of adequate treatment beds or triage and assessment the Health Department needs to explain to the coroner why this man who obviously needed urgent care was allowed to return home.

“A failure to share information resulted in no-one knowing if this man was vulnerable, required further support or at high risk if he again interacted with police.

“Police have now been put into a traumatic situation that could have been avoided.

“Queensland Health is in a shambles and once again it is the police who are paying the price. The police involved are being investigated and their actions scrutinised. The Health Department cannot hide behind patient confidentiality or any other excuse, I want their decisions to also be fully investigated and reviewed for the coroner.”

He said it was “blatantly clear” that information about the man should have been shared with police ahead of his discharge.

“What I do know is that this person was released back into the community, with no information given to police,” he said.

“Police are the only ones held to account. The hospital has cited patient confidentiality. I hope they are held to account before the coroner and have to answer the questions my colleagues have for the last few days.

“What I can tell you is this has visibly shaken all police involved.”

Police on scene at a Kirwan home where Steven Angus was shot.

The incident will now be subject to an Ethical Standards Command investigation, and Townsville District Acting Chief Superintendent Chris Lawson said the use of force was “appropriate” in the circumstances.

Opposition spokesman for Police and Burdekin MP Dale Last said the issue needed to be looked at under a microscope.

“There needs to be some very serious questions asked about the circumstances about his release and why he was released,” Mr Last said.

“And while I appreciate a coroner’s inquest, along with the police investigation which will be conducted, the fact that we end up with another siege situation where lives were put at risk deserves scrutiny.”

Mr Angus’s family said he struggled with his mental health for a long time.

“You fought your demons for so long,” they said in a social media post.

“You’ve left a hole that can never be filled and you know I love you so much.”

Superintendent Lawson said the officer’s reaction was appropriate.

“Our use of force policy is very clear, you use whatever use of force you consider necessary to resolve the incident, and at the minimum level possible,” Superintendent Lawson said.

“At this stage I’m confident … the officers acted appropriately.

“All of this incident was caught on body-worn camera footage, so that footage will be available to the coroner and Ethical Standards Command as they do their investigation.”

The fatal shooting was the sixth in Queensland since October last year.

Townsville District Acting Chief Superintendent Chris Lawson. Picture: Shae Beplate

Superintendent Lawson said this wasn’t an outcome police ever wanted.

“Obviously our thoughts go out to the family involved because we don’t want to see people being hurt and we don’t want to see people die, we want to resolve these incidents as peacefully as possible and our thoughts are with the family.

“It’s an obviously very distressing time for the family at the moment but police will continue to provide the support and updates to the process as it all goes through.”

Mr Leavers said it was lucky police didn’t die.

“It’s very fortunate a police officer or another community member were not injured. Our thoughts are with all those involved,” Mr Leavers said.

“The officers acted utilising their training to protect their lives.

“The QPU will provide assistance to the officers involved as they will have to live with this incident for the rest of their lives.”

A state government spokeswoman said the ESC and coronial investigations would look at the circumstances of the incident which include the events prior.

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