Kingaroy Hospital: Investigation launched after patient shot by police

The police say they had ‘no other option’ but to shoot a man outside a hospital after he allegedly confronted officers with a knife.

A hospital patient in regional Queensland has been shot after police responded to reports of a knife.

Police were called to Kingaroy Hospital in the rural town of Kingaroy about 7.30pm on Friday night.

On arrival, they were allegedly threatened by a knife-wielding man who was shot in a “last resort” decision, Detective Superintendent George Marchesini said.

“Its still early days in regards to the investigation,” he said on Saturday.

“What I can say is there was a male person out the front of the hospital allegedly armed with a knife and that male person was confronting police.

“Police responded — they’ve used the training that’s provided, they’ve got to make a split-second decision.

“Its not something we like to see … It was a last resort with no other option.”

The man was provided treatment at the scene and then flown to the Sunshine Coast University Hospital where he has since undergone surgery.

A man was shot by police at a Kingaroy Hospital in Queensland. Picture: Google.

He remains in a critical but stable condition.

Detective Superintendent Marchesini said five officers at the scene were being provided professional help, while an investigation has been launched.

He told media on Saturday a call came through on Friday night reporting the man had been seen allegedly carrying a knife inside the hospital.

When officers arrived he was outside at the entrance, where the shooting took place.

The Ethical Standards Command is investigating the incident and the Crime and Corruption Commission will have oversight over the investigation.

Darling Downs Health told the ABC that the man was a patient at the hospital when he was shot.

“Earlier this evening, Kingaroy Hospital contacted Queensland Police out of concern for a patient who presented to the Emergency Department,” a spokesman told the ABC.

“Staff at the hospital acted swiftly to ensure the safety and wellbeing of other members of the public in the area.”