Woman shot during incident at Rothwell, north of Brisbane
A man has been arrested and another remains on the run after a woman was shot in a car north of Brisbane prompting a major police operation involving heavily armed officers.
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A woman has been shot and dumped at Rothwell, north of Brisbane, on Thursday morning and two men went on the run prompting police to declare an emergency situation further north at Bribie Island where they tracked a vehicle of interest.
Armed police swarmed Sylvan Beach Esplanade in what was believed to be a siege on Bribie Island after a woman, aged 27, was taken to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital in a serious condition with a wound to her back.
Two men arrested after woman shot in back, dumped at residence
The Courier-Mail has been told the woman was shot and then dumped on Kelliher St at Rothwell, with the offenders – two males, both also aged 27 – then fleeing 60km north to Bribie Island.
The men abandoned the car - leaving a weapon behind - and were chased by police but escaped.
One of the men was arrested at a unit on Sylvan Beach Esplanade on Bribie Island about 3.45pm.
Police were on Thursday night still trying to find the other man. He is described as Caucasian, about 177cm tall, proportionate build and has no hair and blue eyes.
Police are urging anyone who sights the man or has any information regarding his current whereabouts to not approach him and to immediately call Triple Zero (000).
The emergency declaration was revoked about 2.05pm while the men were still on the loose.
Police believe the woman was shot at an unknown location before the men drove her to the Rothwell home.
“We don’t know where she was shot, but we know that she wasn’t shot at Rothwell and she was taken to the address at Rothwell,” Inspector Bob Hytch said.
Insp Hytch said the men left her there because they knew she would receive adequate medical care from people staying at that address.
“I believe that there may have been a heated argument between the two other male occupants of the vehicle (in Rothwell),” Insp Hytch said.
Insp Hytch said police did not believe it was a domestic violence matter. He confirmed police had recovered firearms and did not believe there was a threat to the community.
“The circumstances of how the woman got shot are still under investigation,” he said.
“But it could be quite explainable that it could’ve been an accidental shooting. However we need to locate the two males ... to be able to build a story as to what took place.”
Insp Hytch said at least two firearms had been recovered by police. He said no one had licences for the firearms.
He said it was not a gang-related matter.
Witnesses reported seeing heavily armed police at Sylvan Beach.
“Cops everywhere, they are even flying drones around and have guns drawn,” said a witness.
‘Saw about eight police cars with sirens going heading towards Bribie,” said another.
The incident started
Numerous police cars were placed at multiple corners throughout the island, while a police van was put on standby at the mainland side of the bridge.
A woman who lives on the street told The Courier-Mail she heard the car come “flying up the street” in Rothwell this morning before a commotion about 8am.
“And then I heard these loud bangs,” the woman said.
“And I thought whoever it was someone trying to smash a door in.
“And then I heard all these screams and yells. There was a lot of screaming and yelling and it was evidently pretty panicked, that’s why I knew something bad had happened.
“The screams and the yelling probably went for a minute or so. And then the car took off again.
“And then within about two minutes there were all these sirens.”
