17-Year-Old Shot by Police After Knife Threat, Union Backs Officers

Authorities say the Queensland teen confronted police with a knife before being shot in the abdomen.

Police attend the scene of a multiple stabbing in Cairns, Australia, on Dec. 19, 2014. Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

A 17-year-old girl was shot by police in Townsville’s West End on June 10 afternoon following reports she was armed with a knife and making threats.

Officers responded to a call at a hotel on Ingham Road shortly before 5:30 p.m.

Authorities allege the teenager confronted police with the weapon before being shot in the abdomen.

Officers on the scene provided immediate first aid, and the girl was later transported to the hospital for treatment.

According to the police statement, the Ethical Standards Command is handling the inquiry, with oversight from the Crime and Corruption Commission.

Police Union Backs Officers, Highlights Risks

Queensland Police Union President Shane Prior voiced strong support for the officers involved, describing the situation as life-threatening.

“Our members in Townsville last night were put in a life-threatening situation and had to use a firearm. Thankfully, our people are unharmed,” he said in a social media post.

He stressed the dangers police face daily and urged the public to show appreciation for their service.

“This is an opportunity for the broader community to say thank you publicly for the work police do in protecting them and putting their lives on the line every shift,” he said.

The incident comes in the wake of knife crime reforms introduced by the Queensland government in September 2024. The legislation bans the sale of knives to minors and mandates secure storage of controlled items by retailers, aiming to reduce youth access to weapons and enhance public safety.

Ongoing Violence Sparks Mental Health Concerns

Tuesday’s shooting marks the second such police incident in Townsville this year. On Jan. 28, officers shot a 23-year-old man reportedly experiencing a mental health crisis.

Prior expressed growing concern over inadequate mental health support in the region.

“I would suggest Townsville has an issue when it comes to mental health and the level of care and perhaps substance abuse,” he said. “I just hope investigators look at that. This has been a long-standing issue in Townsville.”

In a separate incident, another 17-year-old girl was charged with attempted murder in March this year after a man was shot in a car park at North Lakes, north of Brisbane.

Emergency crews were called to Lakefield Drive around 9:40 p.m. after a 42-year-old man was found with a gunshot wound to his arm, which also impacted his chest.

Police allege the shooting followed an altercation involving three men and a teenage girl. Police tracked the girl to Riverview and arrested her around 2 a,m.