The Premier has extended condolences to the Townsville community on Sunday after police the day before shot a man wielding a machete and a knife, who had been moving towards them.
Officers responded to reports of a man armed with multiple weapons on The Strand in Townsville’s North Ward just before 10am on Saturday.
Police said the man – who had yet to be formally identified on Sunday – was shot in the chest and, despite immediate medical attention, was declared deceased at the scene.
Speaking in Townsville on Sunday, Premier David Crisafulli said his immediate reaction was “one of sadness for the officers involved, [and] the broader community”.
“[These incidents] are never easy things to comprehend and process, and it’s important that we enable the internal investigations that go as part of that – but we’ve got to acknowledge that these are really difficult times for everyone involved,” Crisafulli said.
The Premier was there to spruik a knife-crime crackdown in the region, with the state flying squad assisting officers with screenings following the permanent introduction of Jack’s Law last month.
Chief Superintendent Graham Payne said more than 650 people had been screened for knives or bladed weapons since Friday last week.
“Our police are working extremely hard across a number of different areas, not just within Townsville, but across the state,” Payne said.
It is unknown what prompted the fatal incident on Saturday.
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