A New Zealand man was reportedly distressed and asking for his daughter before he was shot dead by police after brandishing and firing a handgun during a four-hour siege in Brisbane.
Shaun Kumeroa, 42, was killed on Monday in the residential area of Inala after holing up in his car for four hours.
Police had arrived at an apartment complex to speak to Mr Kumeroa about an unrelated matter, and found him in the carport of the complex armed with a gun.
Police cordoned off streets in the area and told residents to stay indoors, but neighbours gathered in a nearby park to watch the drama unfold.
The former oil rig worker got out of his vehicle after lengthy negotiations and pointed the handgun at police.
Mr Kumeroa reportedly fired several shots before officers from the special emergency response team returned fire, killing him.
Queensland Police Union president Ian Leavers said officers acted in self defence.
"As we now know a firearm was pointed at police, who in self-defence have used their firearms to protect their lives," he said.
"The police have had no option but to defend their lives and they have done that and obviously that's an allegation that's before the coroner now.
"But that is the difficult and dangerous nature of police work, and things - as we know - happen so quickly you have to make instantaneous decisions. There are no other options."
Inspector Richard Kroon said the incident had been traumatic for everyone involved.
"It's not an outcome that people would have gone to work today expecting to happen - to attend a job where a person's going to end up deceased," he said.
Kumeroa, who was born in New Zealand, left as a young child. He worked on an oil rig but was fired in 2008 after being accused of being drunk at work.
The police Ethical Standards Command will investigate his death, and a report will be prepared for the coroner.
Stuff NZ
