Gunman on run after mass shooting in Queensland
Three people are dead, a man is fighting for life with a gunshot wound to the stomach and another is on the run after a shooting in rural Queensland.
Photo: AAP/James Ross
The gunman remains on the run as police lockdown the area surrounding the scene of the shooting, a rural cattle property at Collinsville northwest of Mackay.
Police have not confirmed a motive for the tragedy after the gunman opened fire on four people about 9am on Thursday.
Three people died at the scene, while the man survived after fleeing into remote bushland with a gunshot wound to his stomach.
The injured man staggered “several kilometres” before raising the alarm. He has been airlifted to Mackay hospital where he remains in critical condition.
It is understood the victims are related to the injured man, but police have been unable to confirm their identities.
“We are actively searching the area and committing our investigations as to what the circumstances were and how tactically people have been shot,” Mackay District Superintendent Tom Armitt told reporters.
“We do not know who was responsible. We haven’t been able to get any other details from the male person who had been shot, as he was required emergency transport back to the hospital and he’s currently undergoing emergency surgery.”
Supt Armitt said police were methodically clearing the property before a detailed examination of the crime scene could be conducted.
“We believe that the person who shot them may still be in the area … We haven’t been able to get close enough at the present time to confirm anyone’s identity.”
Police have updated an emergency declaration to Shannonvale Road where the shooting took place.
The hunt for the gunman continues and members of the public and aircraft have been told to avoid the area.
Supt Armitt described the incident as a “very rare event” and said police would remain on the scene for as long as it takes to track down the gunman.
One woman working in nearby Collinsville said the community was in shock.
“The whole town is a bit rattled that something like that could happen here,” she told AAP.
“We don’t know the full story, but we’ve definitely heard about it. It’s a small town everyone knows everyone.
“But out in the ‘the boge’? Well, it’s tiny.”
Queensland Ambulance Service said eight crews had been sent to the incident from Mackay, Townsville and Rockhampton.
-AAP
