Man shot dead by Qld police after allegedly ‘charging’ officers while armed identified as army veteran

A Queensland man shot dead by police after allegedly approaching them while armed with knives has been identified.

A man shot dead by police after allegedly “charging” at them while armed with knives has been identified as army veteran Steven Angus.

Queensland Police were called to an address on Bel Air Ave in Kirwan, a suburb of Townsville, about 4.40pm on Friday following reports a man had threatened to self harm.

A Queensland Police spokesman said preliminary inquiries indicated the 52-year-old – who was allegedly “holding knives” – advanced towards them about 4.55pm.

He was shot by officers, who then immediately rendered first aid at the scene.

A man shot dead by police near Townsville has been identified as an army veteran. An investigation by the Ethical Standards Command has commenced. Picture: Supplied / 7 News

“Unfortunately a short time later, after the arrival of Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS), he was pronounced deceased,” Townsville District Acting Chief Superintendent Chris Lawson told reporters on Friday.

Superintendent Lawson said body-worn camera footage which captured the incident would be forwarded to the coroner and the police’s Ethical Standards Command.

“Our use of force policy is very clear; you use whatever use of force you consider necessary to resolve the incident, and at the minimum level possible,” he said.

“I can’t comment exactly what occurred on Friday, but those will all form part of how our policy with what occurred.”

The investigation is also being overseen by the state’s Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC).

The man was shot dead after allegedly approaching police while armed with knives on Friday. Picture: Supplied / 7 News

The man – who has since been identified as Steven Angus – had next-of-kin who lived locally and had been contacted.

“It’s a very distressing time for the family at the moment,” Superintendent Lawson said.

NCA NewsWire understands Mr Angus had previously served in the Australian Army.

A social media user paid tribute to Mr Angus on Saturday, writing he had “left a hole that can never be filled”.

The incident marks the state’s sixth death in a police shooting since last October – including the deaths of Nathaniel, Gareth and Stacey family in the Wieambilla domestic terror attack in December 2022.

The Trains shot dead Constables Matthew Arnold, 26, and Rachel McCrow, 29, before killing neighbour Alan Dare on December 12.

All three were later shot dead by Special Emergency Response Team (SERT) officers following a lengthy siege.

Last month, 27-year-old Aubrey Donahue was shot dead in Mareeba, near Cairns, following a four-hour siege with police.