THE SCENES WERE FRIGHTENING..! – HORROR AS A PREGNANT WOMAN AND A MAN ARE FOUND D3AD INSIDE A CHARLEVILLE HOME WHILE A CHILD IS DISCOVERED AT THE SCENE.
NewsWire
A small town in rural Queensland is in “shock” after a 23-year-old pregnant woman and a 45-year-old man were found dead inside a home in a suspected murder-suicide,while a child was inside.
Police were called to a house on King St, Charleville – about 700km west of Brisbane – about 6pm on Wednesday after reports of a “serious assault”.
Residents of the small town were urged to stay inside for about eight hours as police negotiated with a person inside.
Assistant Commissioner Matthew Vanderbyl said on Thursday the negotiation became “quite dynamic and quite threatening … quite quickly” to officers on the scene.
“They withdrew to a point of safety,” he said.
The bodies of a pregnant woman and a man were found inside a Queensland home. Picture: 4RRFM 105.7 Charleville
“Negotiators were there at that point, and specialist police were then activated in a line from Brisbane.”
He said it was “too early” to determine if the incident was domestic-violence-related or if there were mental health concerns.
“The circumstances of all the people involved will be thoroughly examined as part of the wider investigation,” he said.
A toddler was also at the scene and taken to Charleville Hospital about 6pm in a stable condition with a minor leg laceration.
Police declared a Public Safety Preservation Act for the area, which was revoked shortly after 1.40am on Thursday.
“No police officers or members of the public were injured during the incident,” a statement read.
Police declared a PSPA after they were called to a property after reports of a serious assault.
Mr Vanderbyl said the young child found at the scene was safe and in another person’s care.
He said the deaths would shake the small town, which had a population of about 3000 people.
“These types of events rock any community badly, let alone a smaller community, where everyone is known to each other,” he said.
“It is something that will have a tragic impact on the wider community of Charleville, and not the least of friends and relatives of the deceased, who our thoughts must remain with today as well.”
Officers were trying to negotiate during the tense police operation.
Residents told The Courier-Mail the couple were usually “very quiet” and often see “working in the yard”.
Veronica Hickson, who has lived in the area for a long time, said there were “loads of cars” in the street and officers “everywhere with guns”.
“It is a little bit frightening, when it happened nearly across the road from where you’re living, she said.
Longtime resident and business owner Kade Radnedge said the phone was ringing off the hook to make sure everyone was OK.
“I’ves been here for 25 years and I’ve never seen anything like this,” he said.
“It’s a shock to the community, it’s a daunting feeling (because) you know what’s going to happen next.”
Police ended the lockdown order after eight hours. Picture: 7News
Online, residents said they could hear a convoy of police vehicles driving to the rural Queensland home.
“Lots of police vehicles under lights and siren from Brisbane Toowoomba and Dalby heading that way,” one person wrote.
“The number of ambulances, police cars etc heading up is alarming,” said another.
Residents said the incident was ‘frightening’. Picture: 9News.
Murweh Shire Council Mayor Shaun Radnedge said it was a “heartbreaking day for our community of Charleville”.
“My thoughts, and the thoughts of our councillors and staff, are with the families, friends and everyone affected by the deaths of a man and a woman in a Charleville residence overnight,” he said.
He said he wanted to “reassure our community that there is no ongoing risk to the public”.
Murweh Shire Council Mayor Shaun Radnedge said it was a ‘heartbreaking day’ for the community. Picture: 7News
“This tragedy will be felt deeply across our small community. I know many people will be struggling to come to terms with what has happened,” he said.
“I also want to mention our gratitude to our local and supporting police officers and emergency response agencies for their commitment to the safety of our community.”
