Police shoot man dead during welfare check in Brisbane’s east
Updated ,first published
A man has been shot dead by police after officers were called to an address in the eastern Brisbane suburb of Tingalpa for a welfare check.
Acting Chief Inspector Heath McQueen said officers were called to the 21-year-old man’s home in Thurston Street at around 10.30am on Tuesday.
“We tried to negotiate with a male at that address who stabbed himself, threatened the police and was shot,” McQueen said.
He said that many police officers were at the scene during the conflict, and although paramedics provided first aid, they could not revive the man.
While a police officer was slightly injured in the accident, medical teams responded to the scene.
“This is a devastating event,” McQueen said.
“My thoughts are with all the officers involved, the emergency services involved and the family of the man involved.
“Incidents like this are a reminder, a stark reminder, of the inherent danger our police face on a daily basis across the state.”
The person requesting social assistance for the 21-year-old voiced concerns about his mental health. McQueen was unable to reveal who made the call or their relationship to the man.
He also did not address whether the man had previous mental health issues or a criminal history, but said he was “confident that the use of force was appropriate, given the circumstances.”
“Our police, as you can appreciate, attend incidents every day. These incidents are often dynamic in nature and require split-second decisions,” McQueen said.
The Ethical Standards Command has launched an investigation into the fatal shooting and McQueen said the investigation would be overseen by the Queensland Crime and Corruption Commission.
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