Protesters take to streets after police shoot man dead in Far North Queensland
A warning to Indigenous readers, this story contains images of a person who has died.
Protests have been held in a grieving community in Queensland’s far north after police shot a 27-year-old man dead, ending a four-hour siege.
The fatal shooting in the remote town of Mareeba near Cairns is now at the centre of an independent investigation.
Police were called to an address on Love Street about 11.30am on Saturday after reports a man had threatened self-harm.
“It’s alleged that a 27-year-old man was armed with a knife refusing to allow a female to leave that property,” Detective Superintendent Sonia Smith said.
Police accused Aubrey Donahue of charging towards them and shot him dead at 3.30pm on Saturday.
Despite being given CPR, he died at the scene.
Locals say they are angry about what happened.
More than 100 Black Lives Matter protesters marched through the streets demanding answers.
Body-worn-camera footage will form part of an independent investigation and a community meeting has been held.
Grieving loved ones have posted online saying they won’t give up their fight for justice.
“We cry here now because we lost someone we love,” Jeanne Lyall said in a video.
An investigation is being handled by the Ethical Standards Command, which will provide a report to the State Coroner and be overseen by the Crime and Corruption Commission.
“The investigation will take as long as it needs to take to ensure it’s independent, transparent and provides answers for the man’s family and for everyone involved in this matter,” Smith said.
Police wouldn’t but drawn on whether the alleged weapon had been found, saying that was part of the investigation.
