A 27-year-old man has been shot dead by police after he refused to drop his gun during a siege in Ipswich, west of Brisbane.
Queensland Police said they were called to Earnest Street in One Mile around 11:15am, after reports of a man with a firearm threatening people at the location.
Around midday, an emergency declaration was put in place under the Public Safety Preservation Act, ordering residents of Earnest Street and Woodford Street to remain indoors.
Police attempted to negotiate with the man and will allege officers were threatened before the man was shot around 12:30pm.
Witnesses at the scene said they heard four shots be fired.
The declaration was later revoked around 2pm.
Acting Assistant Commissioner Dave Cuskelly said the man was shot after he exited the property while holding the weapon and refused to put it down.
He said the type of weapon is yet to be identified.
Acting Assistant Commissioner Cuskelly said police "engaged" the man and a female at the scene.
"The context and dimensions of that relationship still being investigated," he said.
"During the course of the negotiations the female was rendered safe by police and pulled away from the confrontation."
An investigation by the Ethical Standards Command is ongoing, and a report will be compiled for the state coroner.
Police body worn footage will be used in the investigation.
Acting Assistant Commissioner Cuskelly said the woman as well as a number of other witnesses were assisting with the investigation.
'Split second decisions that have got the ultimate consequences'
Acting Assistant Commissioner Cuskelly said the decision to shoot does not come easily.
"[Police] are trained extensively around that decision-making process, and it's extremely dynamic. [They are] split second decisions that have got the ultimate consequences as we've seen, so they take it very seriously," he said.
"It's really important that the police work very hard to find answers specifically for the family of the man that's died and also all those attending police and emergency services people because these tragedies are felt by everybody," said Acting Assistant Commissioner Cuskelly.
"We will be working very hard in that space and then provide the coroner everything that they need an overview."
Ian Leavers from the Queensland Police Union described the situation as "extremely traumatic".
Mr Leavers said the officers involved were males who had been in the force for under five years, under the command of a "very experienced district duty officer".
"They had called in other specialist units but obviously they weren't able to get here," he said.
"If a firearm is presented at police and a life is threatened, police have to do their job and use a firearm.
"As soon as soon as police have used their firearm, they have immediately, when safe, rendered first aid and have done all they possibly could to try and preserve the life of the person who threatened the lives of the police officers.
"We are supporting not only the police officers but their families.
"This has a ripple effect not only on the police involved but also their loved ones who are at home.
"We're just very fortunate that we do not have a murdered police officer here today."
