Internal review after Gold Coast police keep shooting into family car at Coolangatta secret

Gold Coast senior cops kept secret one of two shootings in 36 hours, potentially creating a safety risk for the public – now the blowback has begun.

An internal police review is to be conducted after Gold Coast senior cops kept secret one of two shootings in 36 hours potentially creating a safety risk for the public.

The Bulletin is told “the blame game has begun” after police on Wednesday staged a media conference where they first revealed a shooting incident occurred last Saturday at Coolangatta.

Glass shattered in the Coolangatta shooting. Picture: Supplied

A 55-year-old man and his family were driving for a family night out when their car was shot at — but despite regular requests for updates of crime events the newspaper was kept in the dark.

POLICE HUNTING FOR WEAPONS AFTER SIEGE ARRESTS

The Coolangatta incident along with a drive-by shooting at the Arundel Police Beat and a siege at Nerang are now all being investigated for potential links.

A police source told the Bulletin “We have had a gunman on the loose. It’s what we call an active shooter. What if he put a bullet in someone’s head. There’s a blame game (going on). It (the ultimate decision) sits with the commander in chief.”

A couple speak out after a shot was fired into their car at Coolangatta.

Bond University criminologist Dr Terry Goldsworthy said his former position as a working detective was to use the media to publicise incidents to gain useful leads from witnesses.

He said the only reason not to release information about a major crime incident would be if there was some detail which would impede investigators.

“But where there’s an incident and there are no evidentiary issues being impeded by making a public appeal or notification, then it should occur for simple reasons — for the public safety,” Dr Goldsworthy said.

He acknowledged police could face a shocking scenario where if information was not provided an innocent civilian could be killed by criminals on the run.

“It goes to the very heart of public confidence in the police that they are going to be transparent and accountable. One way you do that is by informing the public what is going on,” Dr Goldsworthy said.

“It’s not always good news stories. Sometimes you have to go out there and say “yeah there are a series of armed robberies, be careful this is what occurring”.

“It’s almost like a Sergeant Shultz approach (from the TV series Hogan Heroes) where there is nothing to see – you know ‘I know nothing’ – where their heads are in the sand and they hope it goes away. It befuddles me.”

Police Minister Mark Ryan speaks during Question Time at Parliament House in Queensland. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Dan Peled

The Bulletin asked Police Minister Mark Ryan if he believed the information should have been shared with the public, and by hiding it how did that fit with the government’s position on transparency.

“Like all Queenslanders, I expect the QPS to always act in the interests of community safety and transparency but I respect that the QPS will need to employ certain policing methodologies and strategies to investigate and apprehend offenders,” he said.

Mr Ryan said any specific questions about operational policing methodologies and strategies should be directed to the QPS.

“As with all major policing operations, I understand a review will be conducted.

The QPS has made it clear to me on every occasion that the Service will always endeavour to be transparent in all its dealings with the media and the public,” he said.

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‘Surreal’: Family reeling after dad hit by bullet shot into car

June 9: Police have now revealed a gun was fired at a car with a family inside at Coolangatta on Saturday – four days after the frightening incident occurred.

The shooting occurred two days before a drive-by shooting at Arundel Police Beat.

In the Coolangatta incident, a 55-year-old man was grazed by the bullet which tore through the family car, according to Gold Coast police.

The Hyundai station wagon was driving on Tweed Street near Rutledge Street just after 5.10pm on Saturday, June 4.

The shooting occurred on Tweed St, Coolangatta on Saturday, June 4. Picture: Supplied.

A firearm was “discharged” and a “projectile” entered the vehicle, grazing the 55-year-old male passenger, who was travelling with his 51-year-old wife and their 13-year-old son.

The male victim was taken to hospital for minor injuries but has since been released.

The 51-year-old female driver told police the family was travelling along Tweed Street when she heard a “massive bang.”

“I turned to my husband and he was grabbing the back of his neck and he said he’d been hurt,” she said.

“We then saw there was a round hole in the doorframe.”

The male victim said the incident unfolded on a “family night out” and the trio planned to grab dinner before going bowling.

“I felt my whole body push forward. My wife’s window was completely shattered,” he said.

“I turned to her and said I think we’ve been hit. It was a very scary situation.”

Damage sustained to the Hyundai station wagon from the bullet. Picture: Supplied.

The man said he thought his son’s basketball had exploded but quickly realised it was a shooting.

“I was dumbfounded. It was completely surreal that it happened,” he said.

He said the randomness of the attack kept him “awake at night” and a “millisecond’s difference” could have killed him, his wife or his son.

Doctors said he was an “incredibly lucky man” to have survived the incident.

Gold Coast police Detective Acting Inspector Michael Corby was asked why it took days for police to release information about the Coolangatta shooting.

He said the incident was under investigation during that time and police were now seeking information from the public.

“It appears the origin shot came from the right hand side of the victims’ car,” he said.

“We are investigating (that) it may of came from a vehicle in the opposite direction.

“The family went to Coolangatta Police Station straight after.”

Det Act Insp Corby said the attack appeared random in nature.

Police have released footage of the family recounting the terrifying incident. Picture: Supplied.

“We do not believe that the victims were deliberately targeted in this instance,” he said.

“I have no reason to suspect the family that are involved in this, that there would be any reason that they would be targeted.”

Det Act Insp Corby was asked whether the incident could be linked to the Arundel shooting.

“It is being investigated separately from the shooting in Arundel,” he said.

“That said, given the proximity and time we are considering any avenues that might suggest they are linked.
“Our investigation teams are working on both of those matters and are in contact with each other.

“Any time a firearm is discharged is obviously a concern to us. We have a number of police working hard to resolve those matters.

“We are taking the matter very seriously and will investigate any leads.”

Det Act Insp Corby said no taskforce had been deployed in the wake of the shootings but gun violence “is an area we are always focusing on”.

He said the Coolangatta shooting was “a pretty traumatising experience” for the family, who were “understandably very shaken up”.

Det Act Insp Corby urged anyone with “knowledge of what happened or the people involved” to come forward.

The senior officer said police had “reached a point” where assistance was needed from the public “in order to progress the investigation”.

He asked anyone who was in the area on Saturday about 5pm, or motorists who may have dashcam footage, to contact police.

Know more? Phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

*Police initially released the names of the family involved but in a follow-up statement hours later requested their removal to protect the identities of the victims.

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