Man caught hiding in pond charged over fatal shooting

A man who tried to evade police by hiding in a pond near a popular dog park has been charged after a fatal shooting sparked a manhunt.

Police say a 22-year-old Queensland man has been arrested after a man was fatally shot in the chest in Beenleigh, south of Brisbane.

Emergency services were called to Hugh Muntz Park around 10:40pm on Tuesday, where a 35-year-old man was found with a gunshot wound to the chest.

Acting Detective Constable Paul Fletcher said despite efforts to resuscitate him, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police launched a search for a stolen white Kia seen in the area at the time of the shooting and tracked the vehicle to the northern Gold Coast at around 1.30am.

The driver fled into wooded area and dog squad officers scoured the area.

The 22-year-old Beenleigh man was found “hiding underwater in reeds” near popular dog sanctuary Saltwater Park. A firearm was found nearby and he had ammunition in his possession, police said.

The man is charged with car theft, receiving stolen property and possession of a firearm and ammunition and is scheduled to appear in Beenleigh Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.

As investigations into the shooting continue, charges are expected to increase.

“I would like to commend the police for acting bravely and quickly to bring this matter under control in a very short time,” Det Fletcher said on Tuesday. he said.

“Obviously, anything with an armed criminal on the run from the police is unstable.

“They can do many different things under pressure, so going through forested areas with low visibility also makes the police’s job extremely difficult.”

Police said the two arrived separately and have not yet confirmed their connection or the reason for the attack.

“We are not looking for anyone else at this time but are conducting further investigations to make sure we haven’t missed anything.”