A knife-wielding has been shot dead by police in a McDonald’s car park in front of horrified customers after holding a female worker hostage.
Queensland Police said the shirtless man arrived at Marsden Park Shopping Centre, south of Brisbane, on Friday afternoon and demanded workers open the cash registers.
However, when they refused the 32-year-old Kedron man threatened staff with a knife and held a female worker at knifepoint.
Worries witnessed maded multiple calls to police, prompting officers to rush to the scene.
Confronting footage, filmed by onlookers, shows the shirtless man walking towards police as they surround him and yell “drop the knife”.
The shirtless man appears to yell back at police, “F**k off” and “I don’t even have a gun”.
He then moves towards the officers as they direct him to get on the ground.
The officers fired at least three times and the man fell to the ground.
Police continued to point their weapons at the man and directed him to drop the knife.
The man was rushed to Logan Hospital in a critical condition, where he later died.
Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll said the female employee was still being held hostage when police arrived.
“Police called on this person numerous times, numerous times to put down the knife,” she said told media on Saturday.
“When he came at police, obviously police took action. Knives can be just as dangerous as guns.”
Police said the man had threatened people at a number of businesses at the shopping centre with a knife.
Witnesses said he had been threatening staff at McDonald’s and demanded registers be opened for him and became enraged.
“Police attempted to negotiate with man however he threatened them with the knife and police shot him,” a statement from Queensland Police said.
A crime scene was established in the McDonald’s car park, where multiple forensic offers remained late Friday night.
Acting Chief Superintendent Mel Adams said police tried to subdue the man with a taser before using their guns.
“Police attempted to negotiate with that person but that person ran at police,” she said.
Witnesses are being urged to contact police and provide footage of the incident but police say it is too early to make comment on specific parts of the investigation.
“Our investigations will work on any footage that is available. It is quite a complex scene with multiple people who witnessed the event and multiple officers on site,” Superintendent Adams said.
“It’s very traumatic circumstances for our people. Nobody goes to work thinking they are going to harm another person.
“This is something that will take some time for (the officers) to get through.”
The fast-food restaurant has released a statement confirming no staff or customers had been harmed.
“Crew involved have been offered support and we are assisting police,” the statement read.
Investigations are continuing with overview by the Ethical Standards Command and the Crime and Corruption Commission.
