A toddler was taken to hospital and is now safe and well after the bodies of a man and a pregnant woman were found dead in a home following an hours-long lockdown in a regional Queensland town.
Emergency services were called to an address on King Street, Charleville, in the state’s south-west, after reports of an assault yesterday evening.
A man and a woman have been found dead in a house after an hours-long lockdown in Charleville, Queensland. Nine
Police issued a lockdown notice at 5.59pm for multiple streets, with residents urged to remain indoors and the public advised to avoid the area.
That lockdown notice was lifted at 1.42am, after an hours-long stand-off.
However, no further information about the incident emerged until this morning.
Just before 6.30am (AEST), police said specialist officers had entered the home and found the bodies of a 45-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman, who was understood to be pregnant.
No police and no other members of the community were injured.
Southern Region Assistant Commissioner Matthew Vanderbyl told reporters in Toowoomba today that a toddler had been taken to hospital but was uninjured.
He said the young boy was in somebody’s care but did not elaborate.
Vanderbyl would not be drawn on whether the situation was domestic violence related but said that would form part of the investigation.
He confirmed police had encountered what was “clearly quite a violent crime scene” on arrival at the premises.
“There were suggestions of further weapons being involved,” he said.
He said he understood police felt there was a genuine threat to their own lives.
Police undertook a tactical withdrawal to a safe distance, but Vanderbyl said that was when officers noticed the small child at the front of the property.
“Police actually put themselves back into, what I consider to be harm’s way, to remove that child from the premises,” Vanderbyl said.
He said the child may have witnessed “a tragic set of events”.
Police were forced to retreat and negotiators called in as the stand-off unfolded. Nine
The matter will be investigated by the Ethical Standards Command, and a report is being prepared for the coroner.
Specialist police are on the way to Charleville from Brisbane more than 700km away, and Vanderbyl said more information about the crime scene would be forthcoming.
Murweh Shire Council mayor Shaun Radnedge said in a statement it was a “heartbreaking day” for the Charleville community.
“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 at a Charleville residence overnight,” he said.
“Based on the information to date, I want to reassure our community that there is no ongoing risk to the public.”
Police had earlier declared a public safety zone around the area. Qld Police
He thanked police and emergency services personnel for their dedication to community safety.
“This tragedy will be deeply felt across our small community,” Radnedge said.
“I know many people will be struggling to come to terms with what has happened.”
He urged people to reach out to family, friends, or support services.
Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RES”PECT (1800 737 732).
If you or someone you know is in need of support contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue. In the event of an emergency dial Triple Zero (000).