Woman accidentally shot by police during standoff in Cairns
Updated . First published
A Cairns woman is in hospital after being shot by police by accident.
The woman was standing out the front of her Mount Sheridan home when she was struck in the leg as police opened fire on a man who was allegedly armed.
Three officers fired at an allegedly armed and dangerous man late yesterday, and an investigation now under way into how a civilian was caught in the crossfire. Today
Three officers had fired at the allegedly armed and dangerous man late on Saturday, sending Mount Sheridan into lockdown.
Police say the man, who was covered in blood, broke into two homes and stole two knives before threatening the public and police.
In the middle of a busy intersection, officers tried to negotiate.
“It’s an extremely dangerous situation. We’re well aware of what can happen with knives in a public place,” Assistant Commissioner Graeme Paine said.
Three officers had fired at the allegedly armed and dangerous man late on Saturday, sending Mount Sheridan into lockdown. 9News
“The male was given numerous verbal commands by police to surrender and drop the knives, and refused.”
The man was Tasered, and authorities used a vehicle to try to bring him down before officers opened fire.
The man was shot in the leg and elbow.
The woman, 50, standing in the doorway of her home was caught in the crossfire.
“It was a busy residential and traffic area, it appears that one of the bullets that was discharged from the firearm has struck this lady in the lower leg,” Paine said,
“We have had the opportunity to have one of our senior officers spend some time with the lady and her family.
“It’s a very challenging and distressing situation for the family, and certainly for the officers involved.”
Other bullets hit neighbouring homes.
An investigation by the Ethical Standards Command will now examine the decision to pull the trigger as well as how the alleged offender came to be there. Today
“There was a bullet that went through our back fence and ricocheted off a pole and hit the roof. So we have about five bullet holes in our back fence,” one resident said.
Police were apologetic but adamant they made the right call.
“There is no police officer in Queensland that ever wants to see that, but this was a dynamic situation,” Paine said.
An investigation by the Ethical Standards Command will examine the decision to pull the trigger as well as how the alleged offender came to be there.
9News understands he was detained the night before and had been taken to hospital for a mental health assessment.
“If it’s a case that the Department of Health has released this male person back out into the community without completing an assessment, questions need to be asked of them because police were then required to do their job again,” Queensland Police Union president Shane Prior said.
The man has been charged with a string of offences including attempted robbery and going armed to cause fear.
He’ll face Cairns Magistrates Court on Monday.
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