Investigation into access to a weapon after the shooting death of a woman

Police will investigate how a man whose gun license was revoked three years ago gained access to a gun before allegedly shooting a woman in front of two children.

A 31-year-old man has been charged with murder after he was accused of fatally shooting a neighbor taking children to a sporting event before shooting a good Samaritan.

He was arrested on Wednesday evening, ending an hours-long manhunt in north Queensland.

Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski said authorities knew the man before the “terrible act of violence” in Mackay.

“It’s a horrible situation,” he said.

“A life was lost in front of her children due to a truly terrible act of violence by the perpetrator and another person was seriously injured.”

Mr Gollschewski said the accused previously had a weapons license, but it was revoked in 2021, and 11 firearms were subsequently taken away from him.

“It was because of his conduct and other charges against him that his weapons were taken away and his license was revoked,” he said.

“We will be looking very closely at not only what happened yesterday, but also the events that led up to this in terms of access to weapons and how he was able to obtain this weapon.”

Mr Gollschewski said additional powers were being sought through a gun ban agenda before state parliament to prevent similar incidents from happening.

The 31-year-old man allegedly approached his neighbor who was sitting in a vehicle parked outside before shooting her Wednesday afternoon.

The woman was in the car with her 11-year-old daughter and her 12-year-old friend.

“They were on their way to some sort of sporting activity,” Acting Detective Superintendent Emma Novosel told reporters on Thursday.

The 34-year-old woman died instantly, while the two children fled.

“This is obviously a tragic incident in which two young girls witnessed the violent death of a mother,” Superintendent Novosel said.

“I would like to recognize and congratulate their courage for managing to get out of such a dangerous situation and sound the alarm.

“It’s incredibly brave and I can’t even begin to imagine the trauma they must be going through.”

Another neighbor, a 66-year-old man, was reportedly shot when he came to the woman's aid and approached the 31-year-old man, suffering injuries to his hands and chest.

He remains at Mackay Base Hospital in a serious but stable condition.

The streets were locked down and a manhunt was launched.

The 31-year-old man was arrested a few hours later outside a gas station.

Supt Novosel said the 31-year-old man and woman did not know each other but lived on the same street.

The motive for the incident is still unknown.

The 31-year-old man is charged with murder and attempted murder.

He was due to appear in the Mackay Magistrates Court on Thursday.