“We need answers”: Parents of man shot by police speak out
The parents of a man who was shot and killed by a police officer on a Queensland beach have spoken about how they were told the heartbreaking news.
Luke Gilbert was with his girlfriend at Airlie Beach, Townsville, when he allegedly approached police with a pen knife in the early hours on the morning of Saturday, October 1.
The 24-year-old allegedly continued advancing towards the patrolling officers when he was shot five times.
After police rendered first aid to him, Luke was transported to Proseperine Hospital but died a short time later.
His parents, Nicola and Darren Gilbert, told 9News of the tragic moment when police informed them that their son had died.
“Two police officers came in and they just stood, they didn’t even ask us to sit down, and they just stood at the kitchen bench and just said, ‘We’ve very sorry to tell you but your son has died’,” Ms Gilbert said.
Luke, who grew up in Western Australia, was working in Townsville at the time of the incident.
Mr Gilbert has called for an explanation for why his son was shot, describing it as a “massive failing” of police.
“What happened? We need answers,” he said.
“This is a massive failing of the Queensland Police.”
According to the police union, officers had no choice but to shoot Luke after he allegedly “lunged” at them with the knife.
The officers fired four or five shots at Luke after he continued to approach them despite them drawing their weapons and telling him to stop.
Ian Leavers, the President and CEO of the Queensland Police Union, said Luke had “all of a sudden produced a knife from his hoodie and started threatening police”.
“The police have tried to further engage and they have retreated and moved from that location and tried and continue to communicate with that male person,” he told reporters.
“At a point, (he) has lunged at police and they’ve had no other alternative but to use their firearm.
“Police did all they could to try and resolve this matter peacefully.”
As police swarmed the popular tourist spot on Saturday to determine the circumstances surrounding the shooting, Superintendent Graeme Paine said officers were speaking to several witnesses and that the incident was captured on CCTV.
Several people in the area at the time also captured the shooting on video.
In one clip, shots can be heard in the background and a man says, “They just f***ing shot him.
“I thought they were gonna get him with a taser.
“They just f***ing shot him c***s. He just kept walking to the cops.”
In the wake of the news, the 24-year-old’s brother Zac shared an emotional tribute on Facebook.
“I don’t know how to say this It’s not even sinking in yet and it doesn’t seem real,” he wrote.
“Life will never be the same, he deserved a lot better than this! I can’t believe this has happened, he's at rest now.”
Luke’s brother claimed that police used “excess force” after the 24-year-old pulled out a knife “for reasons unknown right now”.
“For all those who don't know this, my brother was on a night out with his girlfriend and as far as we know luke walked up to two police officers, they were talking and then for reasons unknown right now, luke pulled out a pen knife (4cm) and in reaction to that the officers shot 4 to 5 times at my brother and 1 of them being fatal,” Zac wrote.
“There’s a lot of speculation in the media about the circumstances surrounding the loss of my brother but just know the truth is excess force was used on him which killed him and that can never be undone, they didn’t try the taser, the baton or the pepper spray first they went straight for the guns carelessly.”
The incident is being investigated by the Ethical Standards Committee on behalf of the state coroner.
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