Palmview Shooting and Carjacking Incident Leaves One Dead, Multiple Injured; Suspect in Custody
Palmview, QLD — April 20, 2025
An afternoon of chaos unfolded in Palmview after a man was arrested following a violent and erratic crime spree that began with a multi-vehicle crash on the Bruce Highway and escalated into a carjacking and fatal shooting incident.
Emergency services were first called to the southbound lanes of the Bruce Highway at approximately 12:10 PM, responding to reports of a traffic crash involving multiple vehicles. Preliminary investigations revealed that a red Porsche Macan had crashed, triggering a chain-reaction collision.
The incident quickly turned violent when the male driver of the Porsche emerged from the wreck, armed with a firearm, and approached a white SsangYong Rexton that had also been involved in the crash. In a shocking escalation, he shot the male driver of the Rexton in the arm, stole the vehicle, and fled the scene. Authorities have confirmed that the two men were not known to each other.
A manhunt ensued as police tracked the suspect. Around 12:35 PM, officers located the stolen SsangYong Rexton, which had crashed in Landsborough near Forestry Road. Before police could apprehend him, the suspect stole a second vehicle, a grey Mazda 3, and continued his attempted escape. However, he was arrested shortly after near Steve Irwin Way. The firearm used in the attack was recovered inside the vehicle.
In addition to the man who was shot and is recovering from his injuries, two other individuals — a woman and a man — were injured in the original traffic crash. Tragically, the woman succumbed to her injuries, and the man remains hospitalized with serious injuries.
As of now, three separate crime scenes have been declared by Queensland Police: one at the initial crash site in Palmview, and two more in Landsborough tied to the subsequent vehicle crashes and the arrest.
Queensland Police continue to investigate the timeline and motivation behind this disturbing series of events. The identity of the suspect has not yet been released, and it is unclear whether he will face charges related to homicide, attempted murder, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, and weapons offenses.
“This was a terrifying ordeal for all involved, and we are working diligently to determine the full circumstances,” a Queensland Police spokesperson stated. “We’re asking anyone who may have witnessed these events, or who has dashcam footage from the area, to come forward.”
The incident has shocked the local community, prompting calls for enhanced security and a closer look at mental health and public safety protocols. Many residents took to social media to express their condolences to the victims and gratitude to the emergency responders.
More updates will follow as authorities continue their investigation into what is being described as one of the most violent public incidents in the region in recent memory.