Tara: Teens charged over Queensland shooting
Police are investigating a shooting in Tara, the community still reeling from the execution-style murder of two police officers and a good Samaritan neighbour.
Four teenagers are assisting police with the investigation into a shooting incident in Tara, the community in Queensland’s Western Downs still reeling from the execution-style murder of two police officers and a good Samaritan neighbour.
The local boys, aged 14, 15, 16 and 16, two of them brothers, were taken into custody shortly before midnight on Wednesday. It followed police deciding to lock down the centre of the Tara after shots were fired at a civilian vehicle at on Smallacombe Street at around 3.30pm on Wednesday.
Police officers, including SERT, were rushed to the scene to negotiate with the boys, who were apprehended outside of the emergency declaration zone.
About eight shots were fired during the incident and three cars hit, including a police vehicle.
The two 16-year-olds have been charged with seven counts each, four firearms-related charges and three for wilful damage. The 14-year-old was dealt with the same offences and cautioned, while the 15-year-old was released without charge.
No one was injured in the incident and there is no suggestion from initial investigations that police were the target of the shooting.
South West Police District Superintendent Ray Vine described the incident as “extremely concerning”, with police now working to uncover the motive of the teens.
“It’s completely unacceptable and reckless behaviour,” Superintendent Vine said.
“Two of the alleged defendants have declined to be interviewed, so in terms of the actual motivation at this stage, it’s still unclear, but that is part of the ongoing investigation.
“It’s certainly concerning, guns are extremely dangerous. Any discharge of a firearm in a public place is a significant risk to the community. People could have been seriously injured or worse as result of yesterday.”
Investigations following last night’s stand-off uncovered a .22 calibre rifle and a number of discharged cartridges from the property where the shots are alleged to have come from .22 calibre rifle and a number of discharged cartridges. It is still unknown who the weapon is registered to.
The latest incident comes just five weeks after two of the officers stationed in the small community - Constable Rachel McCrow, 29, and Constable Matthew Arnold, 26, were killed in a hail of bullets while they attended a property in the neighbouring township of Wiebillia, 45 km away, to follow up on a missing person’s report.
The missing man, Nathaniel Train, his brother Gareth Train and his wife Stacey Train, met the group of officers armed with guns, killing the two officers and a neighbour who came to help. Two other officers from Chinchilla were able to escape to safety.
Superintendent Vine said local officers have been “quite resilient” in light of the latest incident.
“Their resolve to protect the community and maintain community safety, given the events of five and a half weeks ago, is remarkable and my thanks and respect go out to them.”
He said the response of SERT officers and POLAIR - reminiscent of the scenes following the December ambush - was appropriate and followed the procedure in place for shots fired.
The two 16-year-olds will face Dalby Children’s Court today.
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