Homicide probe launched after man allegedly shot on Tablelands

A 32-year-old man who allegedly fatally shot a “personal associate” in the chest with a rifle at a Watsonville home has appeared in court charged with murder.

Police have launched a homicide investigation into the death of a man in Watsonville.

UPDATE: A 32-YEAR-OLD man who allegedly fatally shot a “personal associate” in the chest with a rifle at a Watsonville home has appeared in court charged with murder.

The Tablelands man was remanded in custody at the Mareeba Magistrates Court on Wednesday to appear for a committal mention on January 31.

Police will allege he shot a 35-year-old man in the chest with a rifle at the man’s Watsonville home on Tuesday.

Officers were called to a West Bischoff Rd home, on Tuesday at about 3.50pm after the man was allegedly shot once following a disturbance.

The 35-year-old was dead at the scene when police arrived at the scene.

His alleged attacker, believed to be known to him, was arrested at the property.

Detective Acting Inspector Tony Law said there were three or four other occupants at the man’s home at the time, with one of them calling police.

“(The two men were) personal associates, known to each other,” Det Acting Insp Law said.

“It was a single shot to the chest.”

“We are still establishing if others witnessed the incident, witness statements are still being taken.”

Act Insp Law said a crime scene has been established at the Watsonville property and will be forensically examined.

Detectives were still investigating whether the alleged murder weapon belonged to the accused.

“I can say at this point in time it will be alleged that a rifle was used as the weapon,” he said.

“As to the calibre of the weapon that is still being forensically examined.

“Investigations are still continuing in relation to that weapon whether it is registered or not.”

The shocking incident has stunned the tiny Far North town which has a population of just 190.

It’s believed a resident of the property was the first to call police about the incident.

“We were there within a very short period of time,” Act Insp Law said. “Certainly police were the first ones that initially assessed the victim and ascertained whether CPR would be conducted.”

The 32-year-old man was located at the address and was arrested without resistance.

EARLIER: A man has been charged with murder after allegedly shooting another man in the chest in a rural Tablelands town.

Police were called to a West Bischoff Rd home in Watsonville about 3.50pm on Tuesday after a man was allegedly shot once following a disturbance.

The 35-year-old was dead at the scene when police arrived.

His alleged attacker, a 32-year-old Watsonville man who was known to him, was arrested at the scene.

He has been denied police bail and remanded in custody to appear in the Mareeba Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

Detective Acting Inspector Tony Law said it would be alleged the man was shot with a rifle.

He said there were three or four other occupants at the man’s home at the time and one of them called police.

“It was a single shot to the chest,” Det Acting Insp Law said.

“We are still establishing if others witnessed the incident, witness statements are still being taken.”

EARLIER: Police have launched a homicide investigation after a man was allegedly shot at Watsonville on Tuesday afternoon.

A Queensland Police Service spokeswoman said police were investigating the suspicious death of a 36-year-old man in the tiny Tablelands town.

Police said they were called to a West Bischoff Mill Road address at 3.52pm following a disturbance where a man was shot.

“One man is in custody and a crime scene has been declared,” the spokeswoman said.

“The two men are known to each other.

“There is no further information at this time.”

Police have been asked for further comment.

Originally published as Homicide probe launched after man allegedly shot on Tablelands