Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News
· collected 2026-08-27 · by Julius Dennis
A man allegedly stole a dozen guns from a house on the Sunshine Coast, shot at police officers, and evaded capture for hours before being arrested in Noosa Springs. The driver, a 21-year-old from Hervey Bay, rammed a police car and fled on foot after dumping his vehicle, while the passenger, a 42-year-old from Gladstone, was initially arrested but later released. Police suspect the man fired shots at a police chopper and an officer in a vehicle before stealing another car and attempting to flee again. Only 10 of the 12 stolen guns have been recovered by police.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-27,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Police officers were shot at during an hours-long crime spree on the Sunshine Coast, which began when a man allegedly stole a dozen guns and a car from a house in Childers early on Thursday. The stolen car's burnt-out shell was later found at Lake Macdonald, near Noosa. Police will also allege that the men were responsible for another burglary in Lake Macdonald, where a second vehicle was stolen and found on the road in Nambour at 10am. A 21-year-old from Hervey Bay allegedly drove the car while evading police, but the 42-year-old passenger, from Gladstone, was arrested after trying to escape. The driver continued to evade police until he dumped the vehicle in Noosa Springs recreation area and took a long-arm firearm with him. Police attempted to intercept the vehicle on several occasions, but were unsuccessful.
Written for “Violent Crime Spree Unfolds” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
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No political leaning scored for article 2872 · logged 2026-08-27
A man has allegedly gone on an hours-long crime spree and shot at police officers after stealing a dozen guns from a house on the Sunshine Coast.
uncertain
man → go → Coast
Inspector John Mahony said the guns, along with a car, were taken from a house in Childers in the early hours of Thursday.
asserted
guns → say → Thursday
The burnt-out shell of that car was found at Lake Macdonald, close to Noosa, later that day.
asserted
shell → burn → Noosa
Police will allege the same men were responsible for another burglary in Lake Macdonald, where a second vehicle was stolen, and was found on the road in Nambour at around 10am.
asserted
vehicle → allege → am
Mahony said the driver, allegedly a 21-year-old from Hervey Bay, rammed a police car and evaded officers, but the 42-year-old passenger, who was from Gladstone, was arrested after exiting the vehicle and trying to escape.
uncertain
who → say → vehicle
The vehicle was tracked travelling north on the Bruce Highway around lunchtime, Mahony said.
asserted
Mahony → track → lunchtime
“That vehicle was subsequently surveilled into the Noosa Heads area.
asserted
vehicle → surveille → area
Police attempted to intercept that vehicle on several occasions,” he said.
asserted
he → attempt → occasions
Mahony said the driver managed to evade police attempts to stop the vehicle, and then dumped the vehicle in Noosa Springs recreation area, taking with him a long-arm firearm police will allege was taken during the first burglary.
asserted
police → say → burglary
“The person fired one round at the police chopper, which was nearby.
asserted
which → fire → chopper
A short time later, police suspect the man also fired a single shot at a police officer in a police vehicle,” he said.
asserted
he → suspect → vehicle
He is alleged to have fled on foot, entered a nearby home with the gun, and stolen the keys to a car from a woman inside the house.
asserted
He → allege → house
Mahony said that car was found driving on the wrong side of the road nearby and rammed by an unmarked police car.
“A short time later the driver of the stolen vehicle was arrested by police,” he said, adding the man was also allegedly carrying a large hunting knife.
uncertain
man → say → knife
Police were expected to charge the man overnight on Thursday at the Nambour Hospital, where he was under police guard.
asserted
he → expect → guard
Police believe he may have tried to steal other cars while armed with the gun in Noosa Springs, and were calling for any potential victims to get in touch.
uncertain
victims → believe → touch
He said these attempts would have been between 1 and 1.30pm, and the man was wearing a white shirt with blue shorts, before taking off his shirt.
“We are fairly certain there will be other community members who will be directly impacted,” Mahony said.
asserted
Mahony → say → shirt
He said only 10 of the 12 stolen guns had been recovered by police, and the two men were related.
asserted
men → say → police
The 21-year-old is expected to appear in the Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Friday morning.
asserted
old → expect → morning
