By Jeremy Sollars
NEIGHBOURS are rallying around the family of a man who was fatally wounded by police at his Freestone property after a confrontation late afternoon yesterday, Thursday 17 November.
Police were called to the Charleys Gully Road property shortly after 4pm Thursday following reports a man had discharged a rifle.
In a statement released this morning, Friday 18 November, Queensland Police Media said police conducted searches of the property, situated in a heavily wooded area, on their arrival.
“Around 5.15pm a man, armed with a rifle, walked out of bushland and confronted officers,” the statement said.
“It will be alleged police attempted to speak with the man however moments later he directly threatened officers and police discharged their firearms.
“The officers commenced CPR until the arrival of ambulance officers, who had been on stand-by near the property.
“The 65-year-old Freestone man was declared deceased at the scene.
“A 64-year-old woman at the property was not injured.
“This investigation is being overviewed by the Crime and Corruption Commission and investigations by the Ethical Standards Command continue.”
The Southern Free Times has chosen not to publish the man’s name at this time out of respect for the family involved.
Neighbours are currently providing the family with support and have asked the media to respect their privacy so close to the tragedy.
It is not known at this time what prompted the man to act in this manner but it is understood to be significantly out of character.
A Charleys Gully Road resident, who asked not to be named, told the Free Times the Freestone community was “in disbelief”.
“I’d met (the man) a few times, we’d seen him at a few of the ‘Friendly Fridays’ at Freestone Hall,” the resident said.
“I would never have thought anything like this would happen involving him – it’s totally out of character.
“But then the reality is you don’t always know what’s going on in someone else’s life – it’s that thing of ‘walk a mile in my shoes’.
“You feel for the family and you also feel for the police involved – they didn’t wake up in the morning and think this is how the day is going to end.
“It’s just a tragedy for everyone involved and the community is really struggling to come to terms with it.”
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