Ivona Jovanovic, 27, shot dead in ‘quiet’ Gold Coast street

Police have called ‘disgraceful’ the actions of people they allege left a home after a 27-year-old woman was shot last night.

Gold Coast police remain at the scene.

POLICE have described as “disgraceful” the actions of people who allegedly left a young woman to die alone after she was shot last night.

27-year-old Ivona Jovanovic from Labrador was shot in the abdomen, allegedly with a handgun at a home in Highland Park, in the city’s north west.

Police will allege a number of people were inside the home at the time.

Ivona Jovanovic. Picture: Facebook

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Police were called to Renfrew Dr, near Kincaid Dr, about 8.30pm on Sunday.

Ms Jovanovic was taken to Gold Coast University Hospital where she died a short time later.

The owner of the home where Ms Jovanovic was shot was the one who called for help, after others ran from the scene.

It’s believed a group of people, including Ms Jovanovic, were at the house before they were about to head out for the night, when the shooting happened.

No charges have been laid at this point, but police are questioning a man known to Ms Jovanovic.

The Renfew Dr home is still an active crime scene with Forensic Police combing the house for evidence.

Gold Coast police remain at the scene of a murder investigation this morning.

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Detective Acting Superintendent Brendan Smith said Ms Jovanovic had been with the man at his Highland Park home when she was shot.

“They’re still very friendly, there’s no suggestion at this point of any domestic violence,” he said.

Supt Smith said the man returned to the home, which he shares with others, about 1am this morning, where he was arrested by a police guard.

He remained in police custody this afternoon and had provided a version of what had happened.

Supt Smith said the weapon, believed to be a handgun, was yet to be found and it was a priority to get it “off the streets”.

Supt Smith said it was “disgraceful” Ms Jovanovic was left to die alone.

“Investigations would indicate that she wasn’t in that residence alone, there was a number of people there, but by the time police arrived those people had decamped so we’re very keen for them to come forward and provide a version as to what happened,” he said.

“Her family have lost a loved one and we need to help get some answers for them.

“It’s very important that we get to the bottom of (this) as quickly as possible.”

Police at the scene at Renfrew Drive in Highland Park where Ivona Jovanovic was shot dead. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

Supt Smith said up to five people were believed to be at the home at the time the gun was fired.

He said police haven’t ruled out the possibility the shooting may have been an accident.

He said while some of those alleged to be at the home had links to bikie gangs, there was no suggestion the incident itself was bike-related.

“Some of these people aren’t actual members of any outlaw motorcycle gang but they are certainly people who hang around the fringes of those types of people,” Supt Smith said.

“That’s obviously a line of inquiry but we certainly don’t believe there’s any suggestion it’s bikie-related.”

Police dogs were used to help search the area for evidence. Picture: Glenn Hampson

Police use 360 degree cameras to map the scene. Picture: Emily Halloran.

Don Luttrell, who has lived in front of the property with his wife for 31 years, had a sleepless night - saying there was plenty of action until about midnight.

“I just heard the car reversing back up the driveway,” he said.

“The driveway is on a 20 per cent slope on cobblestones so tyres are always slipping and sliding.

“They were revving it up, but that’s a common thing down at that house.”

Mr Luttrell said he didn’t hear sirens - but saw a number of police and ambulance vehicles at the scene.

“Six or seven minutes later I heard police running down with their torches,” he said.

Ivona Jovanovic was killed at a Highland Park home on the Gold Coast on Sunday night. Picture: Facebook

“I didn’t know what was happening until I looked out the second storey side window and saw three or four ambulances and police cars.”

He said he wouldn’t describe it as a party house but “the normal coming and going of young men and women in their 20s.”

Neighbour Don Luttrell said he didn’t know what was going on when he saw emergency services at the house. Picture: Glenn Hampson

“I wouldn’t say it was frightening. It’s be a little bit (like that) for the last year or two since they moved in.”

Neighbours Alison and Colin Faulkner said they heard police cars with lights and sirens between 10.30pm to 11pm on Sunday.

“We saw three (police) cars,” Mrs Faulkner said.

“There were red and blue lights flashing. That’s what got us. There was at least three.”

Neighbour Colin Faulkner police arrive. Picture: Glenn Hampson

They didn’t know the young woman was shot and were speechless.

“I’m utterly shocked,” Mr Faulkner said.

“We went to church, we came home from church and we looked out and police cars were going round and round.”

A car across the road is also wrapped in police tape.

Another neighbour who has lived on the “quiet” street for more than 20 years said he didn’t hear anything last night.

“It would have been some time after 8.30pm when I heard police showing up,” he said.

“It’s a recessed house, so it’s unlikely we would have heard anything.

Police remain on the scene at Renfrew Drive in Highland Park. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

“It’s always been quite a quiet street.”

Police are calling on witnesses or anyone with dashcam footage or CCTV from around the area to call Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000.