Mum takes solace son died knowing he was deeply loved

The mother of a man shot dead during a gunfight with police wept in court as she said her son was loving and always willing to help people.

Tjay Robert Doeblien, 27, died after being shot in the chest outside a home in Ipswich, west of Brisbane, on May 15, 2022.

Mr Doeblien’s mother, Patricia Roach, read the family’s statement on the second day of the inquest.

“She would do anything for her children and valued any time she spent with them,” Ms. Roach said in a statement on Thursday. he said.

“Tjay was a very thoughtful, kind-hearted and helpful person. He would buy food for his friends who couldn’t afford to feed their children.”

Coroner Terry Ryan heard Mr Doeblien pointed a gun at police and threatened to kill an officer during a 46-minute standoff with police.

Police responded to reports of a disturbance and Mr. Doeblien did not comply with repeated instructions to drop the weapon.

Ms. Roach said Mr. Doeblein told family members “I love you” every time they met, phoned or texted.

“I’m grateful that this has become a daily habit because it would pass if he knew we all loved him deeply,” she said.

Mr Ryan offered his condolences to Ms Roach.

“His final moments will not define him in terms of the events that led to his death,” Mr Ryan said.

“Unfortunately he was affected by drugs at the time and it is often the case in matters like this that people act irrationally when under the influence of drugs.”

The attorney assisting Carolyn McKeon said forensic examinations revealed that Mr. Doeblein had methamphetamine in his system and had fatal wounds to his heart and lungs from a single rifle bullet.

“The evidence as to which officer fired which shot is simple,” Ms. McKeon said.

“Two officers fired: Officer Darien Gough from his service Glock (pistol) and Officer John Johnstone from his service SIG Sauer rifle.”

Const Johnstone had previously testified that he fired when he saw Mr Doeblein deliberately pointing the silver gun at police.

Mr. Doeblein’s gun was later found to be a crude ‘zipper gun’ missing key parts and could not be fired.

A police investigation found that Mr. Doeblein was too far away from officers to use less lethal options and was too dangerous to approach.

“The use of lethal force was authorized, justified, reasonable, proportionate, legally defensible and tactically sound and effective,” Ms McKeon said.

Inspector Matthew Blunn, who was in charge of the scene, said he requested a police dog, helicopter and tactical officers, but none arrived before the shooting.

Inspector Blunn denied giving the order to open fire, saying: “If he gets too close we’ll have to shoot him, boys.”

“No one would attempt to be involved in a shooting incident,” Insp Blunn said.

“I wanted to make it clear to everyone that this is one of the tactical options.”

Mr Ryan adjourned the investigation for findings to be communicated at a date to be determined.

Mr. Doeblein’s family had no comment outside court.