‘There was a gunshot’: Witness recalls shocking arrest in Ravenshoe

A witness to a shocking Ravenshoe arrest has recounted what she saw on the street, including the moment that made her scream ‘active shooter’ and flee.

Queensland Police are looking into an incident after an officer’s firearm discharged on a busy FNQ street during an arrest. Photo: Cade Mooney

Queensland Police are investigating the accidental discharge of a police firearm during a recent arrest in Ravenshoe by specialist plain clothed police officers.

A witness to the event who was out shopping at the time said it was frightening to see and there was a lot of confusion about what was going on.

Millaa Millaa resident Marceena Burns said she left home to visit the second hand shop in Ravenshoe on March 7 around 9am.

“I’m going down the road and I hear this man yelling ....you could really hear it in his voice,” Ms Burns said.

“I poked my head out to see what’s going on.”

Ms Burns said she saw a man on the ground with three others trying to restrain him.

Grigg Street in Ravenshoe

Ms Burns said the scene “just didn’t look right” as the man was calling out ‘please help me’, ‘someone help me’ and didn’t appear to be intoxicated at all.

The incident occurred in a car parking space along Ravenshoe’s busiest street - Grigg Street - metres from the Cornetts grocery store.

Ms Burns said as she was just taking in the scene when a woman walked past her and said ‘I think he’s got a gun in his hand’.

”I said someone should call the police and someone nearby said ‘I think theyare the police’,”
Ms Burns said.

“I thought ‘bulls--t they are’.”

Millaa Millaa resident Marceena Burns was standing metres from a police arrest in Ravenshoe when an officer's gun when off. She said the incident had left her “shaken” - and with a lot of questions.

While members of the public were looking on, a nondescript car arrived on the scene and parked across the space where the four men were, blocking Ms Burn’s view.

“I saw the red and blue flashing lights in the back of that car and two people came out the passenger side and another got out the driver’s side. He was holding a yellow plastic thing that looked like a taser,” she said.

“I thought they might be the police and someone had called them. As I turned my head I heard a bang which I swear on a stack of bibles was a gunshot.”

Ms Burns said she was shocked by how little people responded to a gun going off in a busy shopping area.

“Nobody reacted, except me I shot down behind a bush and yelled ‘active shooter’. Never did I imagine I would have to yell those words in Australia,” she said.

“Everyone else stood around like idiots with their phones out but I got in my car and got out of there. It was a small calibre pop. I’m sure it was a gunshot but I didn’t see the gun go off so I can’t say for sure.”

Queensland Police confirmed a gun did go off during the Ravenshoe incident, but it was a police officer’s weapon.

Queensland Police said around 9am specialist police officers located a 35-year-old Millstream man in a vehicle on Grigg Street that morning and allegedly seized drugs, drug utensils and a knife.

“During the arrest a police service weapon was unintentionally discharged. This matter is being reviewed,” a police spokesman said.

“The man was charged with two counts of possessing dangerous drug, and one count each of possess utensils and possession of a knife in a public place.”

The man is due to appear in the Atherton Magistrates Court on March 26.
Anyone who witnessed the arrest or has vision can contact [e-mail]

Originally published as ‘There was a gunshot’: Witness recalls shocking arrest in Ravenshoe