Shooter still on the run from police
POLICE continue to search for a gunman more than four days after he shot at police and sent a suburb into lockdown.
Officers believe the shooter is a 39-year-old man who is known to police and had been released from prison about two months prior to the shooting.
Officers observed a man driving a stolen vehicle on Friday.
POLICE continue to search for a gunman more than four days after he shot at police, sent a suburb into lockdown and triggered a citywide response.
Police believe the shooter is a 39-year-old man who is known to police and had been released from prison about two months earlier
Officers patrolling Toowoomba observed a man driving a stolen Mitsubishi SUV about 2pm on Friday.
They tracked the vehicle to Dempsey Court where the driver allegedly fired several pistol rounds, striking the officer’s vehicle.
The police officers returned fire and struck a male passenger before the men fled.
A Beelbee Street woman, who chose to remain anonymous, said the situation was “scary and full on”.
“You hear sirens all the time here in Toowoomba, but it sounded like a jet was landing (with) the roaring of the cars chasing each other through the street,” she said.
“They came flying around the corner – I thought there must have been a crash on the corner too.
“It was so loud.” Police from across South East Queensland swarmed on Toowoomba, including a Polair chopper crew and officers from the Special Emergency Response Team.
The wounded passenger presented to the Toowoomba Hospital claiming he had suffered stab wounds.
This was quickly debunked and the man was placed under police guard while the hospital staff treated his injuries. He has since been released without charge but detectives continue to investigate his involvement.
Toowoomba detectives have urged the man and any members of the public who know of his whereabouts to come forward.
Darling Downs District Inspector Felix Faria said police had not identified any ongoing risk to the public.
No police officers were injured in the incident.
QPS Ethical Standards Command will probe the officers’ use of their firearms.
ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ABOUT THE OFFENDER OR HIS LOCATION SHOULD PHONE POLICELINK ON 131 000 OR CRIME STOPPERS ON 1800 333 000.