A 19-year-old woman is in critical condition after undergoing surgery for gunshot wounds to her neck and head sustained in a drive-by shooting outside a boxing event in Loganholme, south of Brisbane, on Saturday night. Three other individuals were also injured in the incident, which occurred around 8:18 pm.
Detective Inspector Ian Galpin of Queensland police stated that a group of people were gathered at the passenger drop-off zone outside Fitzy’s Loganholme when a Mitsubishi vehicle pulled up. Police allege that a “number of shots” were fired from the front window of the vehicle, where two males wearing balaclavas and gloves were seated, striking four people.
The 19-year-old Jimboomba woman remains in critical condition. Speaking on Sunday, Detective Inspector Galpin described her as an “innocent bystander.” He remarked, “It’s horrific. It’s something that her family should never have to go through.”
The three other injured individuals are in serious but stable conditions. They include a 38-year-old Browns Plains man, shot in the abdomen and arm; a 37-year-old Salisbury man, shot in the abdomen; and a 27-year-old Cornubia man, also shot in the abdomen.
According to police allegations, the Mitsubishi used in the shooting was later set alight on Maloney Road at Waterford West, which has since been declared a crime scene. A second car then reportedly collected the occupants of the Mitsubishi and fled the area. Detective Inspector Galpin noted the possibility that “one of these persons from the Mitsubishi was injured or burnt during this process.”
“This is a horrific event in a public space where adults and children were simply trying to enjoy a sporting event and this incident, it’s clearly not acceptable. We will not tolerate it,” Galpin added.
Logan’s mayor, Jon Raven, expressed the community’s shock and fear on Sunday morning during an appearance on the Today show. “This has sent a shock wave through Logan. We’ve never seen something like this in Logan before,” Raven said. He extended his sympathies to the victims, staff, and attendees, highlighting the family-friendly nature of such events and the potential lasting impact on the many children present.
Raven also mentioned that the boxing event had been organized to help children avoid violence, and the organizer would be “devastated” by the incident, as it goes against the event’s purpose of empowering young people.
Queensland police deputy commander, Chris Stream, described the scene as “confronting,” telling Today that “a number of people had suffered gunshot wounds.”
Logan City Titles, the event organizer, released a statement on social media Sunday morning, expressing heartbreak over the incident. “Logan City Titles was a family event, an event for our community, showcasing local talent, hard work and everyone’s skills inside the ring,” the statement read, adding, “These types of incidents have no place in the boxing community or any part of the broader community.”
As of Sunday, the offenders remain at large. However, police have stated that they do not believe there is an ongoing threat to the public and are urging anyone with information to contact them.
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A Jimboomba woman, 19, was shot in the neck and head. She has undergone surgery and remains in a critical condition.
