Two police officers were killed in the line of duty at a property in Queensland’s Darling Downs. The officers, identified as Rachel McCrow and Matthew Arnold, were shot at while they were at the property in Wieambilla, which is about 300 kilometers west of Brisbane. Four other officers were also shot at while they were trying to locate a missing person.
Katarina Carroll said that their officers had asked Queensland Police to check on a man who had been missing for about a year. It’s believed that he had been in contact with some people, but that communication ceased recently. McCrow, 29, and Arnold, 26, died at the scene, as well as a third person who was reportedly an innocent 58-year-old neighbor.
A male officer was shot and taken to the hospital, while a female officer who joined the force nine weeks ago was able to escape. Three more people died following a confrontation with police officers shortly after 10:30 pm.
Specialist officers were called in after a siege started, and PolAir was also involved. The identities of the three individuals involved were not known. According to Katarina Carroll, the commissioner of Queensland Police, the officers did not stand a chance. Two of the hostages were able to escape.
The investigation will look into the incident’s lead-up, including the risk management assessments that were carried out before the shooting. She refused to confirm reports that the three individuals used military-grade equipment. However, she said that there were multiple weapons involved.
The two officers, who were identified as McCrow and Arnold, were described by Carroll as courageous and committed individuals. Arnold had joined the force in March 2020, while McCrow had joined the organization in June 2021. The commissioner of Queensland Police said that it was a tragic incident that had affected the entire community.
The incident is regarded as the largest loss of police life that the organization has suffered in a single incident in several years. Carroll also praised the other officers who came to the property with McCrow and Arnold. They were reportedly courageous and committed individuals.