‘Good bloke’: Tributes flow for man found dead after Warwick siege

Friends and former classmates have revealed their anguish at the news a Warwick historian and man of ‘incredible intelligence’ has died after a tense 10-hour standoff with police.

Warwick man Steven Harrison is being remembered as a man with a brilliant mind following his tragic death after a dramatic 10-hour siege.

The 38-year-old’s body was found by specialist police in his Wantley Street home about 8.15am Tuesday. No one else was injured.

Amelia Otto lived next door to Mr Harrison for about two years and said they formed a close bond.

“Steve was an extremely kind and gentle person who would help you at the drop of a hat. He was like an uncle to our children and a very loved and dear friend,” she said.

Steven Harrison, 38.

“He helped us move house when I was heavily pregnant and would watch our older kids when I had medical appointments.”

Ms Otto said her family would miss the roast dinners that she shared with Mr Harrison.

“He was a very churchgoing person and Sundays were days he had to himself, we do a roast every Sunday, that’s our tradition and quite often we would invite him over,” she said.

“He would cook his own potatoes and bring them down.

“Steven did his own thing, he was a historian by trade and he was a very intelligent person.

“I hope the community don’t judge him for who he is by this incident as this is very much not who he was.

“Steven would have done anything to help anyone and we wish there was more of that for him.”

A former classmate said she was saddened to hear of the shock death of someone whose “incredible intelligence was obvious to everyone who talked to him”.

“I remember first meeting him in our senior modern history class and I was just floored by how smart this kid was,” she said.

The scene of the Warwick siege

“He was a grade younger – it was a composite class at that point – and it was obvious he had an incredibly brilliant mind.”

The woman, who asked not to be named, said she remembered Mr Harrison in those days as a “gorgeous boy with beautiful blonde hair”.

“And one of the things I remember most is his manners. He was so polite and well-spoken and people were somewhat fascinated by him.”
The woman said Mr Harrison was a distinguished figure when spotted around town, with his long hair and unique vintage style, and often spotted riding a pushbike.

“It is clear he has battled some demons in his life and he had some things going on,” she said.

“But he always smiled and said hello when I would see him. He was so clever and it is sad to see things end this way for him.”

Officers outside Wantley St, Warwick, Tuesday morning. Photo: Michael Hudson.

Friend Jacob Jensen said news of his involvement in the siege started circulating early Tuesday morning.

“Steven was a good bloke,” he said.

“Me and my mates would often sit around having a laugh with a couple drinks and a game of pool.

“Steven was always very helpful.”

Police were called to the Warwick home about 7.30pm on Monday after neighbours reported seeing Mr Harrison walking around his back yard with a sawn-off shotgun in hand.

They swarmed on the property and established a cordon, with residents reporting the use of loud alarms and flashing lights as police tried to Coax Mr Harrison out of the house. His body was found in the house on Tuesday morning.

The Ethical Standards Command will assist in investigations into the incident and a report will be prepared for the Coroner.

The death is not being treated as suspicious.

Armed police outside the property on Wantley Street. Picture: 9 News

Nathan Fox lives near the Wantley Street address, which is a short distance from the Vines Motel.

“We knew something was up last night when we saw police congregating across the road with their guns and whatnot,” he said.

Officers at the corner of Wantley and Wood Street just before 9am Tuesday. Photo: Michael Hudson.

“We have been hearing the police mediate, they have had alarms and bright lights on the house all night long to coerce them out of the house.”

A woman who lived across from the Wantley Street home and wished to remain anonymous, said the police had alarms and spotlights blaring all night.

“At 11.30pm we woke up to the police repeating a message on a loudspeaker,” she said.

“It was absolutely loud, you would have been able to hear it from blocks away.

“My husband slept through it, but I didn’t.”

When the woman’s husband stepped out to get the morning paper he was greeted by two armed police camped on their veranda and another two specialist police hiding in the bushes.

“You have to admire the cops,” she said.

“I totally respect them after actually seeing something like that in real life.”

Heavily armed police at the scene of a 10-hour stand off on the streets of Warwick on March 14, 2023. Photo: Michael Hudson.

The drama comes less than 24 hours after another unrelated overnight siege took place in Kirwan on the outskirts of Townsville.

A 50-year-old man was found dead inside his home after a 10-hour long siege that forced neighbours into lockdown.

Originally published as ‘Good bloke’: Tributes flow for man found dead after Warwick siege