‘Urgent, urgent, shots fired’: Police officer recalls horror radio call after colleagues murdered by crazed extremist gunmen

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‘Urgent, urgent, shots fired’: Police officer recalls horror radio call after colleagues murdered by crazed extremist gunmen

A police officer has tearfully recalled the harrowing moment he learnt two of his colleagues had been ******* by crazed religious extremists during an ambush at a rural property.

Queensland Police Constable Matthew Owen was one of the officers who responded to reports of the horrific ********* at Wieambilla that claimed the lives of police officers Rachel McCrow and Matthew Arnold and neighbour Alan Dare two years ago.

Constable Owen became emotional early in his evidence as bodycam of his movement prior to the ********* was played to Brisbane Coroners Court on Thursday.

In the footage, Constable Owen is heard responding to the job from the neighbouring town of Dalby.

Camera IconQueensland Police constables Chris Sharman, Matthew Owen and Craig Loveland will give evidence on the fourth day of an inquest into a religiously motivated ******* ******* at Wieambilla. NewsWire / Glenn Campbell Credit: News Corp Australia

The words “urgent, urgent, shots fired” and “officer down, repeat officer down” can be heard in the background as Constable Owen drives off.

The five-week inquest into the massacre at Wieambilla is examining the deaths of Queensland Police constables Rachel McCrow and Matthew Arnold, Wains Rd neighbour Alan Dare and the three members of the Train family – Nathaniel, his brother Gareth and Gareth’s wife Stacey – on December 12, 2022.

Constables McCrow, 29, and Arnold, 26, were murdered after jumping the fence of the Trains’ Wains Rd property in Wieambilla.

data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==Camera IconQueensland Police Constables Matthew Arnold and Rachel McCrow were murdered by members of the Train family. Supplied Credit: Supplieddata:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==Camera IconNathaniel, Gareth and Stacey Train family were ******* during the lengthy shootout later in the night. Supplied / Queensland Police Credit: News Corp Australia

Two other constables – Keely Brough and Randall Kirk – survived.

Mr Dare, 58, was murdered investigating fires lit by the Trains.

All three members of the Train family were ******* by highly trained special emergency response team officers during a lengthy shootout later that night.

data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==Camera IconThe Trains’ property at Wains Rd in Wieambilla. Supplied / Channel 9 Credit: Supplied

The attending police were conducting a ******** check on Nathaniel, a former NSW school principal who had been reported missing months prior, but were instead ambushed.

The Trains followed an extremist ********** ideology known as premillennialism, believing ****** ******* would return to earth after a ******* of extreme suffering.

data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==Camera IconAlan Dare, the Trains’ neighbour, was murdered investigating fires the trio had lit at the property an hour after the two constables were gunned down. Supplied Credit: Supplieddata:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==Camera IconMr Dare filmed the unfolding event on his phone before his ******. Supplied / Queensland Police Credit: Supplied

In Constable Owen’s bodycam, officers are heard saying over the radio: “I have an officer down, repeat officer down” in reference to the ********* of constables McCrow and Arnold.

Others are advised to proceed code 1 – with lights and sirens – along with the words “urgent, urgent, shots fired”.

The court was told Constable Owen was tasked from Dalby – about an hour and 15 minutes away – but ran into issues with ****** spots along the highway that left him without any radio reception.

He told the court there were moments his QLiTE device also dropped out as a result.

Constable Owen said he did not know anyone from the Train family or had dealt with them at the address until the day of the incident.

Upon arriving near the Wains Rd property he explained he went to a pre-planned meeting point near an intersection.

“I knew police officers had been shot, there was one unaccounted for … (and) there were multiple shooters with rifles,” Constable Owen said.

data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==Camera IconConstable Keely Brough survived the *********, escaping into bushland after being fired upon by the Trains who then lit fires in a bid to flush her out. Supplied Credit: No Sourcedata:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==Camera IconConstable Randall Kirk fled gunfire from the Trains, sustaining an injury in the process. Dan Peled / NewsWire Credit: News Corp Australia

“There was also mention of a ***** as well.”

In more bodycam footage played to the court, police are heard discussing the officers unaccounted for were “Rachel and Matthew” and “one of Chinchilla’s”.

“He’s in a car, don’t know where the f**k he is … I’ve been told not to go in,” an officer is says.

The exchange was referring to Constable Kirk fleeing gunfire from the Trains, suffering an injury during his escape.

His escape was captured on his own bodycam, played to the court earlier in the week.

data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==Camera IconNathaniel Train. Supplied Credit: Supplieddata:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==Camera IconStacey and Gareth Train. Supplied Credit: Supplied

Constable Owen said he took out body armour due to the advice about shots being fired.

Ruth O’Gorman KC, counsel assisting the coroner, asked him: “Did you … have a rifle in the vehicle you were travelling in?”“No,” he answered.

She continued: “If you had, would you have taken one out with you at that time?”

“Yes,” Constable Owen asked.

The court was told a decision was made to respond “immediately” rather than wait for additional officers to arrive on scene.

A decision was made for the officers to walk towards the property due to the police vehicles being “too big” of a target for the shooters.

Constable Owen said another discussion involved the extraction of Constable Brough as she hid in grassland from the Train family.

“I felt we were way too close and exposed,” Constable Owen said.

data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==Camera IconGareth and Stacey Train uploaded a

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video in the hours after the murders where they described police as ‘demons’. Supplied Credit: Supplied

“None of us knew the layout of the property. I had never been down that road before.

“We had Glocks that may have been effective to 10-15m – they had rifles capable of ********* greater distances.”

The court was told officers instead used a driveway towards a neighbouring property to get closer to the Trains’ home.

Bodycam footage played to the court captured Victor Lewis – Mr Dare’s neighbour – approaching officers on his quad bike as they approached the Wains Rd property.

Mr Lewis is heard recounting Mr Dare’s ********* and a car burning on the property.

One officer tells Mr Lewis to get out of there.

The inquest continues.

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