‘A lot of blood’: What witnesses saw after man gunned down on busy road

Several people are ‘assisting’ detectives with their investigation after a man was ambushed in Ruthven Street and shot in the head. CRIME SCENE PHOTOS INSIDE:

Detectives have interviewed several people who are assisting with their inquiries but are yet to make an arrest four days after a man was shot in the head on Ruthven Street.

The 24-year-old victim remains in a critical condition in the Princess Alexandra Hospital intensive care unit.

Police have been unable to speak to him because he is intubated.

The man was travelling along Ruthven Street in a black Mitsubishi Lancer about 2am on Tuesday when he was shot near Downlands College by several offenders in a white dual cab Ford Ranger.

Police believe the occupants of the Ford Ranger followed the victim after he left his girlfriend’s home in Coonan Street in Harlaxton.

Police incident on Ruthven St near Kate St, Tuesday, March 15, 2022. Picture: Kevin Farmer

The victim then staggered to the Coonan Street address where his girlfriend’s family phoned Triple-0 about 2.50am.

Witnesses described seeing “a lot of blood”.

“We didn’t know what had happened, we knew he was hurt but didn’t know he had been shot until we were interviewed by the police,” they said.

Police declined to say what type of firearm was used, citing operational reasons.

The Ford Ranger was found in Felton about 5am on Tuesday. It had been torched.

Detectives are appealing for information on a Nissan Patrol believed to be linked to a shooting at Toowoomba on Tuesday, March 15. Picture: Supplied

Police believed the shooters may have stolen a Nissan Patrol ute (QLD rego 01LAP) from a nearby address and driven back to Toowoomba before dumping the vehicle at the intersection of Mahogany Street and Poinciana Street in Toowoomba on Wednesday afternoon.

Darling Downs Detective Acting Inspector Paul McCusker urged anyone who may have seen the vehicles to come forward, including those with dashcam footage.

“These things are a great concern to police, it doesn’t matter where they occur in the community, when there are persons driving in the streets and discharging rounds it has a great risk of someone being shot who may be going about their normal day-to-day business,” he said.

The Nissan Patrol was dumped at the corner of Mahogany Street and Poinciana Street.

A/Insp McCusker said it was believed the victim and the people in the white Ford Ranger were known to each other.

“This is not a random attack,” he said.

Witnesses reported hearing multiple gunshots at the time of the shooting.

If you have information for police, contact Policelink by providing information using the online suspicious activity form 24hrs per day at www.police.qld.gov.au/reporting.

Specialist police investigate an incident at a Coonan St address in Tuesday. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Report crime information anonymously via Crime Stoppers. Call 1800 333 000 or report online at www.crimestoppersqld.com.au.

Quote this reference number: QP2102339056.

Motorists are advised of expected lengthy diversions around Ruthven and North sts in #Toowoomba due to a traffic incident. #qldtraffic Please avoid and seek alt route pic.twitter.com/1idDj7qozL

— Queensland Police (@QldPolice) March 14, 2022