Queensland police are facing scrutiny after shootings in Caboolture and Cairns that occurred within hours on Tuesday morning, leaving one offender dead and a second fighting for life.
The first incident occurred in Caboolture, north of Brisbane, just after 3.40am on Tuesday following reports that a man had been stabbed in the neck.
The alleged offender escaped on foot before threatening a woman when cornered nearby by police.
Officers opened fire when the man refused to surrender, and the 26-year-old died at the scene.
"Police attempted to negotiate, however, he continued to threaten the female person and as a result police discharged their firearm," Detective Ben Fadian said.
The woman in her 20s was treated for a small cut to the arm and shock, but refused further medical treatment.
A 54-year-old man stabbed in the neck remains in the hospital in a serious condition.
While police believe the trio were "loosely associated ", Det Fadian said they were not involved in an intimate relationship.
Police remain at the scene, with the shooting under review by the Ethical Standards Command and the Crime and Corruption Commission.
Within hours, police were called to reports of a second armed man in Cairns in the state's far north about 10.30am.
Police opened fire when the offender charged and threatened the officers with a knife.
Medical assistance was immediately provided to the man by police, and he was taken to the Cairns Hospital in a critical condition.
Police have refused to confirm how many shots were fired, or why officers failed to deploy a Taser in either incident, which are under internal investigation.
25°C