Family’s search for answers after WA man killed in Queensland police shooting

The parents of a West Australian man shot dead by police in Queensland have no idea how the situation spiralled or why their son pulled a knife on officers, saying he had no history of mental health issues or drug use.

Luke Gilbert, 24, had been visiting Airlie Beach with his girlfriend at the weekend when police claim he approached officers on the street just after midnight Saturday, before threatening them with a knife.

Police fired five shots, three of which hit Gilbert, with onlookers catching the moment on camera. Despite the officers administering first aid, Gilbert died after being rushed to hospital.

The Mandurah man had moved to Queensland a few months earlier and was described as an adventurer who loved the outdoors. His family are desperate to know why police did not use a Taser or any other method to subdue him before opening fire.

Nicola and Darren Gilbert told Nine News Perth their son had no history of mental health problems or drug use.

“They shot him three times in the chest when he only had a four-centimetre knife,” his mother said.

“He should not have pulled out that knife. We’re not disputing that,” his father said.

“But should he be shot and killed because of it?”

The Gilbert family will now travel to Queensland to bring their son’s body back to WA.

“We just want to see where he lived, where he spent the last five months of his life,” Darren said.

On Monday, Gilbert’s brother, Zac, said police went “straight for the guns”.

“A lot of people loved Luke. Life will never be the same, he deserved a lot better than this,” he said.

Queensland Police’s ethical standards command will investigate the officers’ use of firearms, with oversight from the Corruption and Crime Commission, but Queensland Police Union president Ian Leavers said there was “no other option available”.

Leavers said he had been told Gilbert had “substantial mental health issues”, which was contradicted by the 24-year-old’s parents, who said he had no history of mental health problems.

“This is unique, and we are starting to see this be very prevalent in our society – mental health issues which are a real concern,” Leavers said.

“They [the officers] are physically fine, but mentally this will have a severe impact upon them.”

With Toby Crockford and Heather McNeill