In cold blood: Two police, neighbour gunned down in deadly ambush; three shooters killed in firefight
Police have shot dead three people after an ambush at a remote property on Queensland’s Darling Downs in which two officers and a neighbour were killed.
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Four officers went to the isolated rural residence earlier on Monday to investigate reports of a missing person believed to be a former NSW school teacher and were met with a hail of bullets.
Police returned fire but the two officers were critically injured and died at the scene. Another two were wounded when at least two gunmen opened fire at the property, at Wains Road in Wieambilla, at 4.45pm.
Authorities say a siege situation ensued and specialist police and PolAir responded.
āTwo males and a female were fatally shot during a confrontation with police shortly after 10.30pm,ā the force said in a statement early Tuesday morning.
The Queensland Police Union president (QPU) Ian Leavers described the killing as a ruthless, cold-blooded āexecutionā.
āPolice were responding to a call for a service for a missing person, it was simply that ā¦ as soon as they entered the property, they were inundated with gunfire and they never had a chance,ā Mr Leavers said.
āTwo police officers were executed in cold blood.
AAP has been told the three attackers were killed in a firefight with officers. According to police sources, the men were brothers and the woman, oneās partner.
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It is understood the officers who died during the earlier ambush ā one male, one female ā were constables in their 20s who had been stationed at nearby Tara.
Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll said the horrific incident was devastating for the victimsā families and the entire organisation.
The commissioner fought back tears as she confirmed the initial deaths of the three people, including her two officers, at the late-night media conference on Monday.
āI would like to also pay tribute to all police and first responders who assisted at the scene and are continuing to respond this evening,ā she said.
āTragically, this is the largest loss of life we have suffered in one single incident in recent times ā¦ It is devastating news.ā
An emergency declaration remained in place on Tuesday morning for the Wieambilla area and a crime scene had been established at the property.
Mr Leavers said āthe behaviour of these murderers tonight is absolutely unacceptableā.
He told the ABC the attack as āa ruthless, calculated and targeted execution of our colleagues and loved onesā and the slain officers as young and āvery junior in serviceā.
āTwo police officers were executed in cold blood.
āTo know that she and he are no longer with us in what was a ruthless, calculated and targeted execution of our colleagues and loved ones brings home the very real risks that we face every single day doing our jobs.
āJust such a tragedy, this should never happen. It was completely unexpected.
āTheyāre both under 30, theyāve hardly lived life and their lives have been cut short.ā
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Mr Leavers said he has spoken with theĀ male police officerās father last night.
āHe was distraught, heās just lost for words.ā
Mr Leavers said a responding policewoman, who managed to escape from the scene, was sworn into the police service just eight weeks ago.
āHer training came in and when she believed her life was about to come to an end, she never stopped trying to do the right thing and communicate with her colleagues.ā
āShe sent messages to loved ones because she thought her time up.ā
He said the member of the public who was also killed, was āshot in cold blood in the backā.
āThis ruthless, murderous trio showed absolutely no compassion.
āThis has hit home not only to my colleagues in this local area but right across Queensland and also our colleagues right across the country.ā
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese earlier said it was a heartbreaking loss for the families and friends of those who had lost their lives in the line of duty.
āMy condolences to all who are grieving tonight ā Australia mourns with you,ā he tweeted.
Opposition leader Peter Dutton, a former Queensland police officer, was also moved by the tragedy.
āDeeply distressing news coming out of western Queensland tonight with those police officers who have been murdered,ā he wrote.
āPolice officers face danger every day to keep us from it.ā
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the deaths were a āhorrible tragedyā as Western Downs regional council mayor Paul McVeigh said his community was shattered.
āItās an absolute tragedy in our community,ā Cr McVeigh said.
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