Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
ABC News
ABC News
National

Protesters take to streets in Far North Queensland after Indigenous man shot dead by police in Mareeba

Desley Ketchup attends a protest outside Mareeba Police Station after her son was shot dead by police on Saturday. (ABC Far North: Meghan Dansie)

About 150 protesters in Far North Queensland are demanding answers about why an Indigenous man was shot dead by police.  

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that this article contains images and names of people who have died.

Aubrey Donahue was killed by specialist officers following a four-hour siege at a home in Mareeba, west of Cairns, on Saturday afternoon.

Officers were called to a Mareeba home at 11.30am in response to an incident, where a 27-year-old man was allegedly threatening self-harm, and not allowing a woman to leave the home.

It is alleged the man was armed with a knife when he advanced on specialist officers at about 3.30pm, before he was fatally shot by police. 

Aubrey Donahue, 27, was shot dead by police after a four-hour siege at Mareeba on Saturday. (Supplied)

Queensland Police said CPR and first aid was delivered, but he died from his injuries at the scene.

Dozens of people gathered outside the Mareeba police station to express their distress and anger about the shooting, many holding flags demanding "Justice for Aubrey".

Mr Donahue's mother, Desley Ketchup, was one of those at the protest and said she wanted answers into the circumstances of her's son's death. 

"This is about justice for my son," she said.

"We are hurting, we are angry, and we want justice now."

Social worker and family friend Isobelle Anderson echoed the concerns.

"Why did they have to shoot him?" Ms Anderson said.

"Why didn't they taser him?"

A community meeting was also held in the town on Sunday, that was attended by around a hundred people, including senior police.

The fatal shooting is now the subject of an ethical standards probe, on behalf of the coroner. 

The man was killed by police at a home on Love Street in Mareeba following an hours-long siege. (ABC Far North: Meghan Dansie)

Police Acting Superintendent Sonia Smith said forensic investigations were also ongoing. 

"Circumstances surrounding this incident are being investigated by independent officers from the Ethical Standards Command on behalf of the state coroner," she said.

About 150 people protest outside Mareeba Police Station, demanding answers after a man was shot dead after a police siege in the town on Saturday. (ABC Far North: Meghan Dansie)

"The matter is also being overviewed by officers from the Crime and Corruption Commission.

"The investigation will take as long as it needs to take to ensure it is independent, transparent and provides answers for the man's family and for everyone involved in this matter."

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.