Queensland Police shot and killed a 48-year-old man on Cavill Way in Narangba after officers attending a domestic violence callout allegedly encountered him at the front door of a home armed with a long-arm rifle-related weapon.
First responders rushed to the scene at approximately 12.30am on Sunday 25 May, where the armed confrontation quickly escalated.
Police confirmed the man advanced toward officers after they arrived at the address. Officers gave verbal commands and performed a tactical withdrawal before the man allegedly continued to approach them and made threats. He was subsequently shot. Officers rendered first aid and commenced CPR at the scene, but the man died from his injuries.
The incident is being treated as a death in custody. The Ethical Standards Command is preparing a report for the State Coroner, with oversight from the Crime and Corruption Commission. Investigations remain ongoing.
Family members who were present at the property at the time were treated for shock, police said.
What police said at the scene
Acting Chief Superintendent Kerry Johnson confirmed the incident at a briefing shortly after. He said police were investigating whether the weapon allegedly carried by the man was legally owned. He noted the man was known to police.
“He advanced towards police. They did the verbal commands and then did a tactical withdrawal from the situation,” Acting Chief Superintendent Johnson said.
Johnson said he had no concerns about the actions of the officers involved, and described the situation as one that “can escalate and de-escalate as quickly as possible.”
Queensland Police Union President Shane Prior said the union’s critical response team attended the scene, and would continue to offer support to the officers and their families. Prior indicated that the union alleged the man had a military background.
“It would seem, on the facts known, that mental health is going to be very significant in the investigation,” Prior said.
Prior said the union’s view, based on the information available to it at the time, was that the officers’ actions were justified.
Neighbours woken in the early hours
For the residents of Cavill Way, Sunday morning began with unexplained noises and then the realisation something serious had happened close to home.
One neighbour said she noticed a police car arrive at the house and then heard four to six gunshots. “Obviously witnessing that has really shook me up,” she said.
Another neighbour said she was asleep when she heard what she described as banging or popping noises. She initially thought little of it. “It almost sounded like someone was banging on the water tank out the back of our house,” she said. “I didn’t really think anything of it because it’s such a nice neighbourhood around here.”
She also said the incident left her unsettled. “Everyone’s so friendly and so it kind of makes you feel a little better that everyone’s feeling the same.”
The fifth police-involved shooting in Queensland in 2026
The Narangba incident is the fifth police-involved shooting recorded in Queensland so far this year. On 3 March, a 21-year-old man died after being shot by police during a welfare check in Tingalpa. The following day, a man allegedly armed with a firearm was shot in Woombye on the Sunshine Coast following a car crash on the motorway.
On 22 March, police shot a 27-year-old man at a shopping centre in Logan Central, where he was allegedly armed with a knife. On 1 April, a 19-year-old man allegedly armed with a large kitchen knife was shot in Arana Hills in Brisbane’s north and subsequently charged with assaulting an officer.
Each of those incidents, like the Narangba shooting, is subject to separate oversight processes.
Anyone experiencing distress following this incident can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or 07 3364 6464. Domestic violence support is available through DVConnect on 1800 811 811, 24 hours a day.
Published 25-May-2026
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