Speargun and axe wielded in brawl
A TEENAGER was stabbed and two others injured when a violent brawl between two families got out of control in the middle of a Townsville street.
Emergency services were called to the intersection of Fulham Rd and Gosper St in Vincent about 7.30pm Sunday after reports of a large group of people fighting and some were armed with weapons.
District Duty Officer Senior Sergeant Matt Lyons said three people were injured
after a dispute between two groups “escalated” into a large street fight.
A 17-year-old boy suffered a suspected stab wound to the back of the neck and a 20year-old man sustained lacerations to his body and a suspected fractured skull.
A 23-year-old woman was also treated for a broken arm and “puncture” wounds.
All three were taken to Townsville University Hospital.
A speargun and a longhandled axe were located on the footpath at the scene where police questioned multiple witnesses.
“What started out as an incident between two people has turned into an incident involving more than 20 persons,” Sergeant Lyons said.
“It appears there was some sort of dispute between several houses here in this area, several streets and several persons in those houses. (It) has escalated into a disturbance outside one of those houses which has escalated.”
Sergeant Lyons said a number of police responded to the incident after officers were called to the same address earlier on Sunday night.
“It is not the first time we have been called to this resi
dence here (on Sunday night). Police left the street about 20 minutes prior to the incident after speaking to several parties from several houses.
“When you add alcohol and friction between families it doesn’t go well and when you add possible weapons, including knives and iron bars to the mix, it is a recipe for disaster,” he said.
Officers from Townsville’s Criminal Investigation Branch have launched an investigation into the circumstances of the disturbance.
A Townsville Police spokeswoman confirmed on Monday that no-one had
made a formal police complaint, and it was unlikely anyone would be charged.
Speaking to media at the scene Sergeant Lyons said police took a “dim” view of public violence, which put the public and police in danger.
“The behaviour is unacceptable.
“That this has been carried out in the streets, and spear guns are being walked down the street.
“We won’t tolerate it.” A Townsville Hospital and Health Services spokeswoman said on Monday that all three injured patients had been discharged.