South Brisbane police shooting: Armed man killed outside Greek Club
A man shot dead by police had fallen through the ceiling of a South Brisbane business when officers were called to the scene, it has been revealed.
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A man shot dead by police had fallen through the ceiling of a South Brisbane business when officers were called to the scene, it has been revealed.
Police shot dead the armed man outside The Greek Club in South Brisbane just after 3pm.
It is understood the man in his 30s was shot multiple times.
The Courier-Mail has been told the man was armed with a metal rod when he was shot by officers.
Police tried to taser the man first. The taser didn’t work and fell to the ground. Police then fired three shots at the man.
Detective Superintendent Andrew Massingham said a business in Fish Lane, about 700m from the scene of the shooting, had contacted police to say a man was in its roof cavity.
The man then fell through the roof and was attempting to assault people at the business.
“That person left the scene prior to police arrival,” he said.
Supt Massingham said a man of the same description was seen walking outside the Greek Club.
Police officers pulled up. The man tried to get into the rear door of the police van, Supt Massingham said.
He said the man rushed at police, armed with a 30cm metal rod with a handle attached.
Supt Massingham said a senior female constable and senior male constable fired a total of three shots.
He said the man rushed at officers in an aggressive manner and the officers had attempted to subdue him.
Witnesses have reported hearing three gunshots followed by screams just outside The Greek Club’s restaurant.
A witness said police shot the man in the stomach.
“Our manager was outside when he heard the shots and then screamed ‘everyone get down’,” she said.
“We all hid in an office for about 10 minutes because we thought it might have been a crazed gunman.”
Police closed Edmondstone St between Russell and Melbourne streets at South Brisbane.
A crime scene has been declared, with the roads expected to be closed for several hours.
Det Supt Massingham said it was too early to tell whether the man was affected by drugs or alcohol.
“The second call for service in relation to his behaviour on this street was that he was acting irrational and that he was attempting to pull his pants down,” he said.
“The person that did observe this believed he may have been suffering some form of intoxication but as to whether he was drug affected or intoxicated, it’s too early to tell.”
Det Supt Massingham said shots were fired by both the female senior constable and the male senior constable.
“We haven’t identified him as yet,” he said.
“We’re making those inquiries now.”
He said both officers would be interviewed by Ethical Standards Command and would participate in “walk throughs”.
“No one wants to come to work and have this happen,” Det Supt Massingham said.
“Both officers have been taken from the scene now. They are obviously upset and to a degree traumatised as to what’s happened.”
The business where than man fell through the roof prior to the shooting incident is located in the Woolworths building on Fish Lane.
Police were seen entering the building throughout the afternoon, but no damage was visible.
Staff at the nearby stores said they were unable to comment on the situation.
It is the latest in a spate of police shootings in Queensland:
August 21: Police shot 43-year-old Wenlong Li at Stretton after he allegedly lunged at them with a knife. Li survived and was charged with serious assault of a police officer while armed.
August 21: Police attending a house in Coomera for a welfare check were confronted by a 29-year-old man wielding a knife. He was shot but survived. He was given a notice to appear for serious assault a police officer, going armed so as to cause fear, possession of a knife in a public place and possess utensils or pipes.
September 7: A 38-year-old Kangaroo Point man was shot once in the abdomen after he allegedly stabbed a police officer in the chin. Police had been at a unit in the man’s complex executing a search warrant when the man allegedly attacked. He has been charged with attempted murder and two counts of serious assault of a police officer.
October 1: Police fatally shot 24-year-old Luke Gilbert at Airlie Beach after he allegedly lunged at officers while armed with a knife in the tourism centre’s main street about 12:20am.
Police immediately began CPR on Mr Gilbert, who had been working in Townsville and was on a night out in the coastal party strip. when the tragedy unfolded but he died a short time later.
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