Man shot multiple times by police in Cairns

A man who threatened police with a machete while on a three-hour rampage before being shot by police doused himself in petrol to avoid being tasered. EXCLUSIVE VIDEO

A Cairns police officer has shot a 21-year-old man in Woree after he allegedly stole a police vehicle in the early hours of Wednesday morning, leading to an almost three-hour car chase during peak hour across the city.

A witness to a man taunting police with a metal bar and machete who was later shot believes the offender doused himself in petrol to avoid being tasered.

A man armed with a pole and machete has smashed the window of a car before driving off in a stolen patrol car. Picture: Supplied

Alarming video has surfaced to reveal a violent rampage through Cairns before the 21-year-old man was shot by police outside a suburban supermarket in Woree.

The video shared with the Cairns Post shows an armed man with no shirt throwing an object at a Cairns business and lunging at a police officer before driving off in an allegedly stolen police vehicle.

Similar scenes unfolded at Newell St when the man smashed the window of a police car while brandishing weapons while officers kept their distance.

Kashia Vue from Cairns Vinyl and Canvas had a front-row seat to the incident as it unfolded.

‘IT WOULD HAVE LIT HIM UP’

“We seen an officer running up the road and then all these other cop cars surrounded him and there was a … guy going off and he started taunting officers with weapons,” he said.

“He had a metal pole and a machete from what I could see and he was throwing stuff around and smashing police cars.

“The officers all backed away, they were very cautious, because he doused himself in fuel.

And that is why they didn’t taser him because it would have lit him up.”

The man in the process of throwing an item at a Mulgrave Rd business. Picture: Supplied

Dramatic video captured the man driving the car in Bungalow near Mulgrave Rd with his arm hanging out the window with police watching on as the man speeds away.

Detective acting superintendent Mick Searle said the chase started after authorities were called to an incident involving a distressed woman in Westcourt at 5.30am.

While responding police were approached by a man who threatened officers with weapons.

Police said the man then stole a marked police vehicle which was then pursued to Woree.

A video has emerged showing a stolen police car driving down Newell St in Bungalow.

“At that time police intercepted that vehicle and further engagement occurred between a male and police which resulted in that male person being shot by a police officer,” he said. “This is the last thing that this police officer thought he would have to do today when he arrived at work, and it’s the last thing that any police officer wants to do as part of their duties.

“It will be distressing for him, as it would be for any person … it’s a traumatic incident.”

The 21-year-old man has been taken to Cairns hospital where he is now in a stable condition.

Superintendent Searle declined to comment on whether the man doused himself in petrol or how many times he was shot and stated such details would form part of the investigation by the Ethical Standards Unit.

Interim Commissioner Steve Gollschewski backed officers to make the right decision in extreme circumstances.

“We hope that person makes a full recovery,” he said.

“It’s being investigated by our ethical standards command with overview by the crime and corruption command.

“This just highlights the dangers of frontline policing and the choices our officers have to make everyday and I back them 100 per cent to do their job professionally.

“We go to great lengths to make sure they’re properly trained to do this and they’re supported in doing that.

“I’ve got confidence in the organisation to be very professional about it, not only in responding in the first instance but how we investigate it properly afterwards.”

RESIDENT DESCRIBES HEARING ‘GUN SHOT’

Woree resident, Paul Cockrem, who lives 50m from the crime scene, said he heard what sounded like a gun shot a little after 8am.

“I was eating my cereal and I heard the sirens, which isn’t unusual, but then I heard a bang,” Mr Cockrem said.

It is understood the man was armed with a metal pole.

There has been a two car crash involving a stolen police car in Woree outside the IGA. Picture: Catherine Duffy

The stolen police vehicle was observed driving outbound along Mulgrave Rd, ignoring road rules and driving dangerously.

All police units were ordered to box-in the theft.

The chase ended at around 8.15am with a multi-vehicle crash involving the stolen car at the corner of Sondrio and Torino outside the Woree IGA.

Critical care paramedics were called to the scene and a cordon set up following reports of a smoking electric vehicle, understood to be involved in the crash.

Police officers attend the scene of a car crash involving a stolen police vehicle. Picture: Brendan Radke

IGA Woree manager Cody Rodgers said he was out the front of the shop and was taken aback to see a “whole bunch of cop cars rock up”.

“I think people heard like the bang of the accident and obviously happened out there,” he said.

The incident happened at the corner of Torino and Sondrio streets, Woree. Picture: Brendan Radke

A Queensland Police Service issued a short statement as the incident unfolded.

“Police are currently responding to an unfolding incident, there is not threat to the public and police are asking people to avoid the area,” they said.

A Queensland Ambulance Service spokesman declined to offer any information on the condition of the shooting victim.

“We did have crew there, we’re not too sure on the condition he was in,” he said.

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Originally published as Man shot multiple times by police in Cairns