Tributes for man after Warwick siege
WARWICK man Steven Harrison is being remembered as a man with a brilliant mind following his tragic death after a dramatic 10hour siege.
The 38-year-old’s body was found by specialist police in his Wantley Street home about 8.15am on Tuesday. No one else was injured.
Amelia Otto lived next door to Steven for about two years and said they had formed a close bond.
“Steve was an extremely kind and gentle person who would help you at the drop of a hat. He was like an uncle to our children and a very loved and dear friend,” she said.
“He helped us move house when I was heavily pregnant and would watch our older kids when I had medical appointments.”
Ms Otto said her family would miss the roast dinners that she shared with Mr Harrison.
“He was a very churchgoing person, and Sundays were days he had to himself, we do a roast every Sunday, that’s our tradition and quite often we would invite him over,” she said.
“He would cook his own potatoes and bring them down.
“Steven did his own thing, he was a historian by trade and he was a very intelligent person.
“I hope the community doesn’t judge him for who he is by this incident as this is very much not who he was.
“Steven would have done anything to help anyone, and we wish there was more of that for him.”
A former classmate said she was saddened to hear of the shock death of someone whose “incredible intelligence was obvious to everyone who talked to him”.
“I remember first meeting him in our senior modern history class, and I was just floored by how smart this kid was,” she said.
“He was a grade younger – it was a composite class at that point – and it was obvious he had an incredibly brilliant mind.”
The woman, who asked not to be named, said she remembered Mr Harrison in those days as a “gorgeous boy with beautiful blond hair”.
“And one of the things I remember most is his manners.
He was so polite and wellspoken and people were somewhat fascinated by him.”
The woman said Mr Harrison was a distinguished figure when spotted around town, with his long hair, unique vintage style and was often spotted riding a pushbike.
“It is clear he has battled some demons in his life, and he had some things going on,” she said.
“But he always smiled and said hello when I would see him. He was so clever and it is sad to see things end this way for him.”
Friend Jacob Jensen said news of Mr Harrison’s involvement in the siege started circulating early on Tuesday morning.
“Steven was a good bloke,” he said. “Me and my mates would often sit around having a laugh with a couple drinks and a game of pool.
“Steven was always very helpful.”
Police were called to the Warwick home about 7.30pm on Monday after neighbours reported seeing Mr Harrison walking around his back yard with a sawn-off shotgun in hand.
They swarmed on the property and established a cordon, with residents reporting the use of loud alarms and flashing lights as police tried to Coax Mr Harrison out of the house.
The Ethical Standards Command will assist in investigations into the incident and a report will be prepared for the Coroner. The death is not being treated as suspicious.
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