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Man charged with murder after attacking three people in Childers, Queensland, killing 78-year-old
A 36-year-old man from Bundaberg West has been charged with murder and attempted murder after a violent rampage through the town of Childers in Queensland. A 78-year-old man was fatally struck with a metal pole while two others were also attacked.
Queensland Police have charged a 36-year-old man from Bundaberg West with murder and several other offences after a violent series of attacks left one man dead and two others injured in the regional town of Childers. ABC News Australia reported that police were called to the area on Wednesday afternoon and subsequently declared three separate crime scenes across the township.
According to police, the suspect was first reported after he allegedly deliberately reversed his vehicle into another car on North Street around 2:30pm. When the other driver got out to inspect the damage, the suspect reversed into him, punched the man, and drove away. The suspect then drove to Whitebridge Street where he fatally struck a 78-year-old pedestrian with a metal pole. The elderly man sustained critical injuries and died at the scene.
The suspect then moved to Lord Street where he assaulted a 66-year-old man before members of the public were able to restrain him until police arrived. Authorities said the man was also allegedly involved in an earlier incident on the Bruce Highway. Police stated that the four men involved in the various incidents did not appear to know each other, adding complexity to the investigation.
The community of Childers, a tight-knit regional town in the Bundaberg region, has been left in shock by the events. With three active crime scenes within the township, police have indicated that processing the scenes will be a lengthy and complex undertaking given the distances between the locations. The suspect has been taken into custody and was due to appear via video link in the Gladstone Magistrates Court.
The incident coincided with the Bundaberg Show Day, which includes Childers, resulting in a quieter than usual atmosphere in the town. Local residents have expressed disbelief that such violence could occur in their community, with many gathering near the crime scenes to speak with police. Investigations remain ongoing as police work to establish the full circumstances surrounding the attacks and the suspect's movements throughout the afternoon.