A woman is in a critical condition and three men are seriously injured after a drive-by shooting south of Brisbane.
Police were called to Fitzys on Bryants Road in Loganholme, which was hosting a local boxing event, on Saturday night after reports of shots fired from a vehicle.
Detective Inspector Ian Galpin said initial investigations indicated shots were fired from the passenger window of a car at a drop off area during an intermission in the Logan City Titles event.
He said a silver Mitsubishi approached the drop-off zone, stopping in close proximity to those standing outside, and fired multiple shots hitting four people.
Police say they don’t believe there is any further threat to the public. (ABC News: Stephen Cavenagh)
A 19-year-old Jimboomba woman was transported to hospital with gunshot wounds to her neck and head, and remained in a critical condition after undergoing surgery.
A 38-year-old Browns Plains man with gunshot wounds to the abdomen and arm remained in a serious but stable condition after surgery, while a 37-year-old Salisbury man and a 27-year-old Cornubia man both sustained gunshot wounds to the abdomen and were in stable conditions after surgery.
Detective Inspector Ian Galpin said CCTV and witness accounts had identified two men in the vehicle who were wearing balaclavas and gloves.
The vehicle drove forward before reversing and exiting the car park, police say. Detective Inspector Galpin said at 8:35pm, 20 minutes after the shooting, it was set alight on Maloney Road at Waterford West.
The Mitsubishi was found burnt out on Maloney Road at Waterford West, and has since been removed. (ABC News: James Kelly )
Detective Inspector Galpin said the people in the Mitsubishi were collected by a second car, with police believing a person may have been left injured or burnt.
Later on Saturday night, a dual-cab ute was set alight on Beenleigh Beaudesert Road at Tamborine, Detective Inspector Galpin said, with a crime scene declared.
He said investigators were attempting to establish a link between the incidents, with both vehicles subject to forensic examinations.
Shots were fired outside Fitzy’s, a venue in Loganholme. (ABC News: Melissa Maykin)
Detective Inspector Galpin said police were looking for at least three people involved in the shooting and are appealing to the community or information.
“This is a horrific event in a public space where adults and children were simply trying to enjoy a sporting event,” he said.
“This incident is clearly not acceptable, we will not tolerate it, and we are applying all our resources to identifying those involved.“
He said police were working to establish the link between those involved but believed the 19-year-old woman was an innocent by-stander.
“It appals me greatly,” he said. “It is horrific, it is something her family should never have to go through.”
Investigations into the shooting at Fitzys at Loganholme on Saturday night are continuing. (ABC News: Curtis Rodda)
Detective Inspector Galpin said the event was last held in 2024 and event organisers were cooperating with police. He said they did not receive any information before the event to suggest such an incident may occur.
He said there appeared to be a level of “pre-planning”, but at this stage of the investigation it was “premature” to speculate on the involvement of any gang members or organised crime.
Detective Inspector Ian Galpin says a suspect could have sustained an injury or burns. (ABC News)
Local community left reeling
Premier David Crisafulli said Queensland would react to the shooting with “sorrow, anger, with a resolve to want to get to the bottom of it”.
“It’s just completely unacceptable that people on a night out at a pub doing something as Queenslander as you can possibly find can be caught and find themselves as collateral damage in such a horrendous, horrendous crime,” Mr Crisafulli said.
He said his government had passed “the strongest new laws” for drive-by shootings in the country.
“People shouldn’t be out on a night out and have to second guess whether or not the next car that’s driving by them might be firing bullets and raining bullets at them.”
David Crisafulli says people shouldn’t have to fear “raining bullets”. (ABC News)
Logan Mayor Jon Raven said the attack had “sent a shock wave” through the city and his thoughts were with all involved.
“We’ve never seen anything like this happen in our city before,” he said.
“I know that there was lots of children who were there last night. This is going to impact them for the rest of their lives.“
Loading…
Cr Raven said he had spoken event organisers from SHDW Boxing Gym and they were devastated by what had happened.
“They go out of their way to help young people use boxing to get back on track and have some positive role models,” he said.
A crime scene remains in place at Fitzy’s Loganholme. (ABC News: Curtis Rodda)
Local resident Shae Hilton said the attack had left her “absolutely gobsmacked”.
“This place has been such a family place for so long and seeing this has actually put goosebumps through my body,” she said.
“It makes me sick knowing even just young people were involved. Young people shouldn’t be involved in things like this.”
Shae Hilton says the attack has left her “absolutely gobsmacked”. (ABC News: Hannah Moon)
In a statement, Logan City Titles said they were “praying for full recoveries”.
“As a team we are working through it and dealing with the emotions that come with this.
“Right now our thoughts go out to the victims and all that were affected.”
Investigations are underway and police said they did not believe there was any further threat to the public.
Look back at how ABC readers and other Australians responded to this live
moment.
That’s where we will leave the Queensland Police press conference.
Source: www.abc.net.au
