Witness describes seeing alleged gunman responsible for Southport siege in Gold Coast

A Gold Coast man has described the terrifying moment he saw an alleged gunman responsible for locking down parts of the city jump out of a car with a “huge” firearm.

A GOLD Coast man has described the terrifying moment he saw an alleged gunman responsible for locking down parts of the city jump out of a car with a “huge” firearm.

Police last night declared a PSPA, locking down the area surrounding Eugaree Street to Nerang Street, Falconer Street and Tweed Street after they caught up with the man at a Freedom Fuel petrol station on Nerang Street.

Police outside the service station. Picture: Elias Abreu

Specialist police and negotiators eventually convinced the alleged gunman to surrender at 11.55pm, more than three hours after the drama began.

Resident Scott Amos told the Bulletin he was driving back from a late work shift with his 20-year-old son on Kumbari Ave around 8.10pm when they stopped at red lights at the intersection of Wardoo and Johnston Street.

Gold Coast residents there is a police incident in the Southport area. Please avoid Nerang Southport Road,between Queen and Wardoo Street. #qldtraffic pic.twitter.com/0kfUHGhAdq

— Queensland Police (@QldPolice) August 16, 2019

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He said he saw a white car, possibly a white Holden SUV, driving northbound before it suddenly turned into oncoming traffic stopped at Johnston Street.

Police have made an emergency declaration in relation to an armed man in Southport. The PSPA encompasses the area surrounding Eugaree St to Nerang St, Falconer St and Tweed St. Residents within the cordon are advised to stay indoors. https://t.co/7ZCdPmOtGE pic.twitter.com/AX7IY0YLFh

— Queensland Police (@QldPolice) August 16, 2019

“I noticed it immediately … the car had two flat tyres, I saw (the alleged gunman) look at me, it didn’t look right,” he said, adding he then “whacked the car in reverse (and) bounced over the median strip” to get away.

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As they turned to leave, the pair said they saw a tall man exit the white car holding a “huge hand pistol” and approach the car he’d blocked in.

“Right then he yelled, ‘Get the f — k out’ at the car,” Mr Amos said.

The local photographer said he couldn’t believe what had happened and passed a police car, where he relayed some information before the officer told him they had found the alleged gunman.

It’s understood the man made his way to Nerang Street where police caught up with him.

It was then, at 8.36pm, that police made an emergency declaration, locking down surrounding streets.

Freedom Fuel St Clairs in Nerang St, where the rampage ended, was still blocked off by police tape on Saturday morning.

Police will allege the rampage started at 7.45pm when the man threatened a male taxi driver, forcing him to drive to a petrol station on Ferry Road.

While there the man allegedly smashed the glass door of the business with his gun, demanding cash from the til.

He then fled in a Holden Astra to another petrol station, 500 metres away, where he stole another car at gunpoint.

The Kia Sportage was tracked by police helicopter to Nerang St where it was stopped with tyre spikes.

Police will allege the man threatened a staff member at a third petrol station, as well as police, before being taken into custody at 11.55pm.

The 29-year-old man has since been charged with 15 offences including five counts of armed robbery, three counts each of wilful damage and unlawful use of a motor vehicle, two counts of serious assault police whilst armed, and one count of dangerous operation of a vehicle with prior conviction and unlawful possession of a weapon.

He is due to appear in Southport Magistrates Court on Saturday morning.