Gunman dead after 10-hour siege in Townsville neighbourhood

Police have spoken about the moment a man opened fire on officers and members of the public in a deadly siege.

A neighbour captured the harrowing moments after gunshots rang out into the night, marking the start of a 10-hour standoff between police and a now dead man.

Police rushed to Elphinstone Drive at Kirwan, on the outskirts of Townsville in northeast Queensland, at 8pm on Sunday following reports a man was armed with a firearm alone inside.

A 50-year-old man opened fire on attending police officers, hitting their vehicles and prompting an emergency declaration zone to be declared at about 9pm.

Neighbour Harry captured the moment the shooting started. Picture: ABC

He turned the lights off while figuring out what was happening. Picture: ABC

“A male person has discharged a firearm toward police and civilians in that area,” Acting inspector Darren Randall told reporters on Monday afternoon.

“We are pleased to report that no one was hurt as a consequence of the discharge of those weapons.”

Attending police immediately called for specialist officers and negotiators to be called in.

However, negotiators were unable to engage with the man who later took his own life.

A 23-year-old resident was evacuated from his home not long after he was startled by the sound of gunshots being fired close by.

“At first, I thought it was just a couple of loud bangs and then I heard another gunshot go off and then the cocking of the weapons,” Harry told the ABC.

A 10-hour siege has ended with a man dead inside his home west of Townsville. Picture: Queensland Police

Video shows the young man’s eyes darting around the room as he waits for the sound of more shots to confirm that a shooting is taking place.

“The next minute cop cars rock up … one or two of them gets hit,” he told the ABC.

“One got hit on the front, the other got the tyres blown off.”

A police officer found the neighbour at the side of his house and helped evacuate him from the house to a safer location.

The emergency declaration was revoked at 6.45am, though residents remain stuck inside their homes after a long sleepless night.

A number of police cars and officers remain on the scene. Picture: 7 News

Earlier, police spoke to the gunman over a loudspeaker.

“This is for your safety and our safety, you leave the weapons inside,” police said in audio obtained by The Townsville Bulletin.

Police told the gunman over a loudspeaker that he needs to come out. Picture: Sunrise

“You’ve already fired off some shots tonight, the situation is dangerous.

“We need you to put down the weapons and come out of the house.”

It is understood the gunman barricaded himself inside the house alone.

Neighbours remained in lockdown just before 6am. Picture: 7 News

One person was dressed in military fatigues at the scene. Picture: 7 News

There are also reports his wife and son were heard appealing to him over the loudspeaker.

It is understood the Avenues Tavern on the corner of Kern Brothers Drive was under lockdown, though it is unknown if there are patrons inside.

Specialist police and emergency operations responded to the scene, with the siege carrying through the night.

One person was dressed in military fatigues, as footage from the scene showed officers gathered around emergency vehicles.

Aircraft have been warned to avoid the area. Picture: 7 News

Police urge members of the public and aircraft to stay away from the exclusion zone.