Qld Police allege 36yo man shot dead by police stole cars, loaded firearms before incident

A man who died during a tense standoff with police allegedly stole two cars and threatened a woman with a loaded long-arm rifle hours earlier.

A man who died after he was shot by a police officer allegedly stole two cars and threatened a woman with a loaded long-arm rifle before a major highway was closed as part of the standoff.

Queensland Police will allege a 36-year-old man stole a green Toyota HiLux, a long-armed rifle and ammunition from a Boroan address, about 55km south of Gladstone.

The man, believed to originally be from Cairns but known to police in the Central Queensland area, then allegedly drove to another property about 20km south at Colosseum about 11.15am.

Queensland Police had shot the man after he’d pulled into a rest stop on the Bruce Highway. Picture: 9NEWS

Central Region crime co-ordinator Detective Superintendent Darrin Shadlow said the man then allegedly “confronted” a 61-year-old woman armed with the firearm.

“He’s demanded a set of car keys from the victim at that address, he’s then stolen another four-wheel drive utility from that address, driving through their front gate, destroying that front gate on the way out,” Superintendent Shadlow said.

Detective Superintendent Darrin Shadlow says the man allegedly aimed a firearm at police. Picture: QPS

Police were patrolling the Colosseum area on the Bruce Highway about 11.50am when they spotted the stolen car, understood to be a white Nissan Patrol ute.

Superintendent Shadlow said police did not try to intercept the stolen vehicle but things quickly took a turn, forcing police to act.

“The vehicle has pulled to the side of the road, a male person has got out of that vehicle armed with a rifle, (and) pointed the rifle at police,” he said.

“Subsequently, police have confronted him, called upon him to drop the firearm.

“He didn’t do that and unfortunately police had to engage and subsequently shot that male person.

“Police immediately attended to CPR of that male person.”

Queensland Ambulance was called but the man later died at the scene.

The Bruce Highway was closed for several hours as police carried out their investigation. Picture: 9NEWS

Superintendent Shadlow urged anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers.

“We do know he’s been in and around in the central area in the last week, we’ve had some interactions with him,” he said.

“A male person fitting this person’s description attempted to break into another shed and a gun safe but was unsuccessful.

“Anyone who may have seen a green Toyota HiLux or a white Nissan Patrol utility or may have driven past the incident, if they can contact Crime Stoppers or police.”

Police are continuing their investigations, with forensic officers combing the site for hours on Monday night. forcing the Bruce Highway to be closed for several hours.

The major highway was eventually reopened on Tuesday morning.

Superintendent Shadlow said the officers involved in the police shooting were “were shaken up this morning” but would continue to receive support from their colleagues.