Armed NSW man shot dead by Queensland Police in Ilbilbie drug operation

Police report the man “produced” a firearm before he was shot by officers at the scene.

A 39-year-old wanted man who was shot and killed by police in a small Central Queensland town had threatened offices with a gun, police said.

The man was shot at a motel on Greenhill Rd property in Ilbilbie, south of Mackay on Monday morning.

Queensland Police went to the motel shortly about 10.30am, as part of a ‘targeted drug operation”.

Senior officers said the man then produced a firearm as officers were removing him from a vehicle to be arrested.

After allegedly threatening officers, the man was shot by police and declared dead at the scene.

A police officer was also injured during the incident.

Commissioner Katarina Carroll said the suspect was previously known to police, and the officer injured in the operation was “doing okay”.

Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll addressed the shooting at a press conference in Brisbane. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

“It just shows you I suppose what we’re up against, [but] he’s doing well”, she said.

Police Superintendent Graeme Paine said the suspect, a NSW resident, was “wanted on a number of matters” by authorities.

“As officers approached the vehicle in the carpark at the location a male person has entered the vehicle,” he said.

He said when officers went to arrest the man, he allegedly produced a firearm.

“During the process officers subsequently discharged their firearms striking the male.”

The Ethical Standards Command will now investigate the shooting on behalf of the State Coroner.

“We’ll conduct a thorough investigation through our ethical standards command and it’ll be reviewed by the CCC … we’ll look at every stage of the process,” Superintendent Paine said.

The man was shot at a Greenhill Rd property in Ilbilbie. Picture: NCA NewsWire / John Eagar

The death is the fourth fatal police shooting in the Mackay Whitsunday district in the past 16 months.

Police allege officers drew their weapons on a 56-year-old man after he armed himself with a large cane knife at a motel in Bowen.

Meanwhile, a 24-year-old man was shot dead by police in the Airlie Beach after he allegedly approached officers with a knife.

Another 24-year-old also died after being shot following an incident near the Mackay Base Hospital.