A man who allegedly shot dead a Queensland woman in front of two children, then shot a man who came to help, previously had a gun license but was not registered at the time.
Detectives are working to determine a motive for the shooting, and police say the man did not know the woman, or anyone else involved, but simply lived on the same street in South Mackay.
A woman was shot and killed in South Mackay on Wednesday afternoon.Credit: new
The 34-year-old woman was sitting in her driveway with two girls, ages 11 and 12, Wednesday afternoon when police believe a single shot was fired at her, killing her.
Acting Detective Superintendent Emma Novosel said the girls ran to a neighbor's house in Robb Place who rushed to help.
That's when the 66-year-old neighbor was shot. He suffered injuries to his hand and sternum and remained at Mackay Base Hospital for treatment on Thursday.
After police declared an emergency zone in the area, the suspected shooter was later arrested at a fast food restaurant along the Bruce Highway around 7:45 p.m.
He has since been charged with murder and attempted murder, with the 34-year-old appearing in court on Thursday morning.
“Certainly at this stage the motive for the attack on this woman and this man is unknown, so further investigations will be carried out to try to determine what caused this incident,” Novosel said.
Witnesses reported the man allegedly had a revolver-type gun, Novosel said. However, he could not comment on whether he had other weapons when he was arrested.
