Police officers bitten, shot in ‘extremely difficult’ altercation in Brisbane’s south

Two police officers have been treated at the Princess Alexandra Hospital while a 26-year-old man underwent surgery on gunshot wounds following an “extremely difficult” altercation in Brisbane’s inner-south on Friday morning.

Police were called to Annerley at 9.13am after residents at a Tamar Street home reported a 26-year-old man had trespassed into their backyard and was “acting erratically”.

Brisbane acting assistant commissioner Rhys Wildman said two officers – a 40-year-old senior constable and a first-year constable – arrived on-scene to find the man was armed with “a piece of timber” and in a “highly agitated state”.

Police attended the scene of an altercation between a man and officer in Annerley that led to both people suffering life-threatening gunshot wounds.Credit: Bec Baker

“Officers attempted to deescalate the situation by engaging with that particular male, however, the male approached the officers and … lunged for a firearm belonging to the senior constable,” he said.

“During the struggle … the firearm discharged, and the senior constable received a gunshot wound to the left inner thigh ... [and] the first-year constable received a bite from the 26-year-old male.”

A witness reported hearing three or four shots in the street, which backs on to a rail line where work has been occurring.

Wildman said during the altercation the first-year constable was “then forced to discharge their firearm”, hitting the 26-year-old twice in the stomach.

A second police team was called to assist in the arrest, with the man “still in a very agitated position” despite the gunshot wounds.

The second team tasered the man, who they were then able to arrest.

Police established a crime scene and the street remained closed about 10am on Friday. Credit: Bec Baker

Wildman said it was “extremely” unusual for an offender to be tasered after being shot.

“Once that was completed then the Queensland Ambulance Service and officers provided first aid to all parties.”

Police declared a crime scene following the incident, and the street remained closed to the public about 10am on Friday.

Paramedics arrived on-scene about 9.30am, and found the 26-year-old with life-threatening injuries, and the 40-yeaer-old officer with potentially life-threatening injuries from the gun shot wound.

“Straight after the incident the first-year-officer applied tactical first aid to the injured officer, putting a tourniquet in place,” said Wildman.

He added the first-year constable’s actions were potentially life-saving for the 40-year-old senior constable.

All three people were taken to Princess Alexandra Hospital, where the 26-year-old remained in a serious condition and underwent surgery for his gunshot wounds on Friday afternoon.

Wildman said the tasering had not led to additional injuries.

Acting Assistant Commissioner Rhys Wildman said it was “extremely” unusual for an offender to be tasered after being shot.Credit: Queensland Police

The senior constable remained at hospital in a stable condition on Friday afternoon, while his partner had been released after receiving treatment for their bite wound.

On Friday afternoon the crime scene remained in place and officers were speaking to witnesses and residents.

Wildman said the incident had sparked a two-part investigation, an ethical standards command component and a criminal investigation into the actions of the 26-year-old.

“Our main priority from a policing perspective is around the welfare of our own officers … this is a very difficult and dangerous job, and they did abn outstanding job on this occasion,” he said.

“Their families have been advised, and we’ll be supporting them as well.”

Earlier on Friday, Premier David Crisafulli said he expected a thorough investigation and the appropriate response.

“Police deserve to be able to go to work, and not open a door and wonder whether or not they’ll be alive at the other end of that exchange,” Crisafulli said.

“To think that a callout can end in something like that sends shivers up your spine, and shows you why people respect the men and women of the Queensland Police Service so very much. They run towards situations where others naturally run away.”