Mackay in shock after alleged murderer arrested, streets locked down

A woman shot and killed after arriving in a street in a car, and a man charged with murder, and the attempted murder of the bystander who moved quickly to help. How could something like this happen here, asks Mackay editor Paul Brescia.

As the fireworks for the Mackay Show lit up the skyline, a few minutes down the road dozens of police pounced on who they alleged was a gunman on the loose.

I have never been as proud of the fine police officers in Mackay as the moment they arrested their suspect at the BP service station in Paget.

The early details were horrifying. Active shooter. One dead. Multiple people shot.

How could this happen here, in Mackay? We’re blessed to live in a country relatively free from the scourge of gun violence, and in a region where people still wave and smile at strangers in the street.
This isn’t big-smoke. It was in our regional town, a place where there is a strong sense of community and where many people still know each other. And when times are tough we come together as one.
A family will now mourn the loss of a young woman taken down in what should have been the prime of her life.

Police allege there was no connection between the man and the woman, except they lived on the same street.

To the man who didn’t think, but quickly acted to put himself in harm’s way because he saw his fellow human being needed help, thank you for your sacrifice and kindness.

What I keep coming back to is the difference between the scene on Robbs Pl — car loads of police with tactical gear, ambulances, fire trucks, and the tension of knowing a suspected gunman with a lot to lose was holed up in a house just a few doors down — and the naive innocence and joy at the Mackay Show, only minutes away.

Monster trucks at the Mackay Show 2024 on Wednesday, June 19. Photo: Zoe Devenport

 
Even when the worst is happening, just around the corner we still live, thrive and find joy.

The family of the victim has a long road of grief they are already starting to navigate, no doubt filled with a sense of numbness.

Find moments of solace when you can, and don’t feel guilty when the weight around your neck is a little lighter than it felt before.

This city is here for you. We will support you.

And I hope to never have to report on a tragedy like this in Mackay again.

Originally published as Mackay in shock after alleged murderer arrested, streets locked down