Brothers among four teen boys in Tara lockdown where 8 to 9 shots fired

Four teenage boys who allegedly caused the shutdown of a Western Downs town where at least eight shots were fired were known to police and two are refusing to co-operate with investigators.

Four teenage boys who allegedly caused the shutdown of a Western Downs town where at least eight shots were fired were known to police and two are refusing to co-operate with investigators.

A large area of the small town of Tara, where two constables who were brutally gunned down 45km away in Wieambilla were stationed, was in lockdown on Wednesday night as a massive police response unfolded.

It is understood officers came under fire a number of times, forcing them and other emergency crews to duck for cover, while also evacuating Day Street residents away from the area.

Paramedics and nearby residents jumped into an ambulance and reversed down the street to escape gunfire when the exclusion zone was expanded.

Armed police stopping vehicles in Tara last night as an emergency declaration remained in place following allegations of shots fired. Picture: 9 News

South West District Superintendent Ray Vine said three vehicles had been struck by .22-calibre rifle bullets.

He said eight to nine shots were fired. Police, including specialist SERT officers, quickly responded to the scene and closed off multiple streets as they negotiated with the teens throughout Wednesday night.

The suspects – aged 14, 15 and two aged 16 – were found at a Tara property late on Wednesday and taken into custody without incident. No one was injured.

“The conduct is extremely concerning and as part of our investigation we will be attempting to identify a motive,” Supt Vine said.

He said police officers who survived the December Wieambilla shooting were called to respond to the Tara shooting.

“Their heroics to resolve and protect the community … given the events of five-and-a-half weeks ago, is remarkable,” he said.

Two men speak to media in Tara, claiming their vehicle was hit by a bullet during the tense incident. Picture: 9 News

“There’s no suggestion that they were actively targeting police at this point in time.

“There were several discharged cartridges at the crime scene. We’ve got at least four holes at two vehicles, [in] two windscreens.

There was also some ricochet so we believe [there was] in the vicinity of eight or nine shots.”

Police said two of the teens were brothers and their mother had been spoken to but it was unclear if she was present at the time of the incident.

Supt Vine said police at this point did not know who owned the gun, and if it was registered.

Two of the teens have declined to be interviewed and police say no alleged motive has been revealed.

The two 16-year-olds were charged with seven offences each, including four weapons offences.

A paramedic runs from gunfire in Tara. Picture: Chloe Cufflin

A 14-year-old boy was dealt with under the provisions of the Youth Justice Act and released, and a 15-year-old boy has been released without charge.

State Member for Warrego Ann Leahy on Wednesday said it would be a “sleepless night” for the residents of Tara who were already reeling from the tragedy five weeks earlier.

“The community is trying to come back together and recover from what happened before Christmas and this is just really traumatic for them,” she said.

“This is not Australia, this is not Western Downs, this is not Tara – this is something you would see overseas. “This is not what you would expect to see happening and unfolding in a community on the Western Downs. “People are fearful and they don’t want to see this happen on a regular basis.”

Police shut down streets in Tara during an active shooter situation. Picture: Chloe Cufflin

Parts of the town were shut down for hours, with residents taking shelter in local stores and a pub as police made an emergency declaration on Wednesday afternoon.

Local police were joined by specialist officers and Polair, who helped track the shots that hit a civilian car.

The emergency situation was revoked about 11.30pm.

Tara is about 45km from Wieambilla, where two officers from Tara, Constables Rachel McCrow and Matthew Arnold were brutally murdered last month, along with neighbour Alan Dare, by Nathaniel, Gareth and Stacey Train.

During the December 12 shootings, four police officers arrived at the Trains’ Wieambilla home about 4.30pm Monday to make routine inquiries about a missing person before they were ambushed by the crazed gunmen.

The Trains were then shot dead in an operation led by specialist officers from SERT following a shoot out in the hours after they brutally executed the Constables and Mr Dare.

Supt Vine confirmed there were officers involved in both incidents.

“We’re providing them with support and counselling if they need it,” he said.

‘WE WERE IN VEHICLE AND GOT SHOT AT’

Two men spoke to media claiming it was their vehicle that was shot.

“We were in a vehicle … and we got shot at,” one said.

“I’m still trying to come to terms with it but it’ll hit me in the next couple of days,” the other man added.

Two of the first officers on scene taking shelter during a police incident in Tara. Picture: Chloe Cufflin

It’s understood officers came under fire a number of times between 5 and 5.25pm, forcing them and other emergency crews to duck for cover while also warning residents away from the area.

Paramedics and nearby residents jumped into an ambulance and reversed down the street to escape gunfire when the exclusion zone was expanded.

Between 5.30 and 7.05pm about 10 nearby residents on Day St and nearby streets were evacuated from their homes by police.

Less than 50m away from the gunfire, a resident who had just come into town to fuel up her car heard the sound of gunshots.

Police during an active shooter situation in Tara. Picture: Chloe Cufflin

The woman, who asked not to be named, said herself and four other people had locked themselves in the business as shots began to ring out.

The woman said she could see police cars, an ambulance and another car at the intersection of Day and Fry streets.

As people ran from the street into the cafe seeking shelter, a plan was put in motion to lockdown, shut off the fuel access and pray.

“We can hear gunshots,” the woman said.

“Let him in, let that man in,” she said to fellow staff members as a man sought refuge from the unfolding incident.

Another man locked down in the cafe said it was scary, considering the horrific gunfight that took place near the township only a month ago.

“There’s a lot of s--t going down,” he said.

State Member for Warrego Ann Leahy on Wednesday said it would be a “sleepless night” for the residents of Tara who were already reeling from the tragedy five weeks earlier.

“The community is trying to come back together and recover from what happened before Christmas and this is just really traumatic for them,” she said.

Originally published as Brothers among four teen boys in Tara lockdown where 8 to 9 shots fired