The identity of the young man who was fatally shot by police at a well-known tourist destination has been made public as his distraught family demands an explanation, alleging that authorities used “excessive force.”
Just after midnight on Saturday, Luke Gilbert, 24, was shot many times near Airlie Beach, on the Whitsundays.
According to police, the young West Australian guy, who was employed in Townsville, approached authorities while brandishing a pen knife in the coastal city’s nightlife district.
Before shots were fired, it’s claimed that he threatened the two cops with the knife and would not put it down.
Zac Gilbert, however, alleged in a social media post on Sunday that the cops had shot Luke without first trying to restrain him in any other way.
He described how Luke, who was out for a “night out” with his girlfriend, approached two police officers and struck up a conversation with them.
The police responded by shooting at my brother 4 to 5 times, with one of those shots being lethal, after he pulled out a pen knife for “unknown reasons,” the post added.
The truth is that excessive force was used on him, which killed him and that cannot be undone; they didn’t try the taser, the baton, or the pepper spray first; they went straight for the guns carelessly,’ Zac claimed. There has been a lot of media speculation about the circumstances surrounding the death of my brother.
He revealed the impact Luke’s death has had on their devastated family.
‘We’re all still processing this right now, I just wanted to get this to as many people as Luke has touched because I know alot of people loved Luke.’
‘Life will never be the same, he deserved alot better than this!! I cant believe this has happened, he’s at rest now.’
‘R.I.P my loving brother, one day I’ll see you again, I love you Luke.’
After allegedly approaching on policemen on Shute Harbour Road at 12.20 in the morning and threatening them, police say Luke was shot up to five times.
He received first aid from the responding officers, was transferred to Proserpine Hospital, but passed away there shortly after.
The Ethical Standards Command is looking into the incident, with the Crime and Corruption Commission providing oversight. A crime scene has been formed, and investigations are still ongoing.
The gunshots were captured on tape by a man who was close photographing himself while consuming a kebab.
