Second armed emergency in 24 hours locks down Queensland town
A second armed-person emergency within 24 hours has triggered a major lockdown in Queensland, with shots fired at homes and police vehicles in a town 130 kilometres south-east of Brisbane.
Police declared an emergency in Warwick just before 10pm on Monday under the Public Safety Preservation Act after reports of an armed individual in the area. The declaration put four streets into full lockdown - Wood Street, Gore Street, Grafton Street and Dragon Street - with residents ordered to remain indoors with doors secured until the situation resolved.
The incident escalated rapidly. Gunfire struck multiple targets: residential properties, civilian vehicles, and at least two police cars. One police vehicle was hit directly, while another had its tyres shot out, according to witness accounts and police statements. A 23-year-old resident who was present during the incident described the moment shots rang out, the sound of weapons being readied, and the rapid arrival of armed officers.
"At first, I thought it was just a couple of loud bangs and then I heard another gunshot go off and then the cocking of weapons," the witness said. "The next minute cop cars rock up... one or two of them gets hit. One got hit on the front, the other got the tyres blown off."
Acting Superintendent Chris Lawson confirmed the seriousness of the threat. "It was more than a threat, there were actually shots fired last night," he said, defending the decision to lock down the area and protect residents deemed to be in a vulnerable position.
The Warwick emergency represents a troubling pattern: it comes just 24 hours after an identical situation unfolded 500 kilometres away near Townsville. In Kirwan on Sunday night, a 50-year-old man barricaded himself inside a property, triggering a 10-hour stand-off that also involved gunfire directed at homes and vehicles. That incident ended with the man's death from self-inflicted wounds.
The rapid succession of two major armed-person emergencies places significant strain on Queensland police resources and highlights the danger residents face when standoffs turn volatile. Both incidents saw police deploy negotiators and attempt de-escalation before situations deteriorated into gunfire.
Residents in Warwick expressed frustration and fear on social media as the incident unfolded overnight. "The alarms and sirens and announcements have been continuing for quite some time," one resident wrote, asking for an update. Another wrote: "Oh! God please keep my family safe. They are right in the middle of this."
Police urged the public to avoid the area and not approach during the ongoing emergency operations. Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Frequently Asked Questions
Warwick is located approximately 130 kilometres south-east of Brisbane in Queensland's south-east. Police made the emergency declaration at around 10pm on Monday under the Public Safety Preservation Act, with four streets locked down: Wood Street, Gore Street, Grafton Street and Dragon Street.
Both emergencies occurred within 24 hours of each other in Queensland. Both involved armed persons who barricaded themselves and fired shots at homes and vehicles. The Kirwan incident near Townsville on Sunday night ended with the suspect's death from self-inflicted wounds after a 10-hour stand-off.
While shots were fired at residential properties, civilian vehicles and police cars, the available reports did not specify whether any police officers or residents sustained injuries. The incident was still ongoing as of Tuesday morning.