Qld: Police to interview man today after carpark shooting

AAP General News (Australia)
12-04-2003
Qld: Police to interview man today after carpark shooting

BRISBANE, Dec 4 AAP - Police were today expecting to interview a man shot by an officer
in the car park of a fast food restaurant in Brisbane.

The senior constable at the centre of the investigation said he opened fire after 30-year-old
Tony Lopez allegedly tried to run him down.

The officer and his partner had been on a meal break at McDonald's in Sandgate Road,
north suburban Virginia, when he saw two cars, one of which was wanted by police in relation
to an armed robbery.

He ordered the drivers to stop but one of them ignored the direction and appeared to
drive straight at him.

The senior constable fired three shots, one of which struck a nearby building before
the car sped away.

Minutes later, ambulance officers were called to a house nearby where Lopez was found
with gunshot wounds to his chest.

He was taken to hospital where he was in a stable condition today after undergoing
surgery this morning.

Lopez's angry girlfriend, who wished to be known only as `Jane', said she had been
at home putting their child to bed when Lopez burst in, covered in blood.

"My partner has come in yelling I've been shot, I've been shot," Jane told Ten News.

"I was coming out of the bedroom and he's got blood all over his chest.

"Then the next minute there are 20 police storming in the house, telling me to get
down on the ground."

The car was found in the driveway with the driver's side and rear windows shattered.

Police seized suspected stolen property from the house and questioned a second man
who was later released.

"I want to know why he was shot," Jane said.

"He was at McDonald's getting something to eat, for God's sake, and the next thing
he's at home saying he's been shot and he's got a hole in his chest.

"You just don't pull out a gun and start shooting people."

Police Minister Tony McGrady said every police officer had the right to defend themselves.

The matter has been referred to the Police Ethical Standards Unit and the Crime and
Misconduct Commission.

AAP rad/cbs/br y

KEYWORD: SHOOTING DAYLEAD

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