A $500,000 reward has been announced to help crack Australia’s only unsolved police shooting investigation following the attempted murder of a police officer in Logan 21 years ago.
Around 8.25am on 24 March 1999, two men forced entry to a bank in Browns Plains and held those inside at gunpoint.
Two police officers attended and moments after arriving at the scene, one of the officers was raising his hands when he was shot by an offender.
The projectile hit him in his groin and exited via his buttocks. He immediately fell to the ground and an offender stole the officer’s firearm.
Meanwhile, the other officer positioned himself at the rear of the bank. At that time, the offender/s discharged their firearm/s twice and the projectiles smashed through the rear window narrowly missing this officer, who was sprayed with glass particles.
The offenders then fled on foot, taking two staff members as hostages. On reaching Browns Plains Road, the offenders stole a car at gunpoint. The vehicle was later abandoned at Park Ridge.
At the time of the incident the offenders were wearing off-white plastic masks, surgical style gloves and were seen to be carrying two-way radios.
The officer who was shot later underwent emergency surgery, where it was discovered the projectile had missed major arteries by millimetres. The stolen police firearm, a Sturm Ruger .357 six-shot revolver is yet to be recovered.
An initial reward of $100,000 was increased to $250,000 in 2004, however, with the case still open, the reward amount has been boosted to $500,000.
Assistant Commissioner Michael Condon said it was hoped the increased reward and passage of time would finally lead to an arrest in the case.
“There are now 500,000 reasons for someone to come forward,” Assistant Commissioner Condon said.
“On the day, the police officers were just doing their job, responding to a very serious incident – trying to keep the community safe.
“The community expects these cowardly acts to be fully investigated and these offenders brought to justice no matter how long it takes. Police will never give up and we have new information that is very promising.
“We urge anyone who may have any information in relation to this matter to come forward and contact police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.”
In addition to the increased reward, which remains at the Police Commissioner’s discretion, an appropriate indemnity from prosecution will be recommended for any accomplice, not being the person who actually committed the crime, who first gives such information.
