Paramedics treat Senior Constable Leeding after last night's shooting. Credit:Channel Ten “The ballistics experts are still at the scene. It’s quite obvious there has been shots fired by the offenders in this matters,” he said. “We’re still conducting ballistics checks and investigations into any shots fired by police officers.” He told reporters the three suspects were known to police. Two staff and four patrons held hostage during the hold-up were shaken psychologically but did not require hospital treatment, he said.

Policeman shot ... the Pacific Pines Tavern. Credit:www.ceaust.com “They were held for a short period of time,” he said. Senior Constable Leeding has two young children with his wife, fellow police officer Sonya. Police officers gather around an ambulance treating Senior Constable Leeding after last night's shooting. Credit:Channel Ten Senior Constable Leeding was called to the Pacific Pines Tavern at 10.30pm, along with a female officer from the Coomera police station.

Three people armed with guns had allegedly stormed the tavern shortly before closing time and taken staff and patrons hostage. It’s what everyone dreads – the knock on the door in the middle of the night As Senior Constable Leeding approached the scene, a thief armed with a sawn-off shotgun came towards him and allegedly shot him in the face. His partner began to perform CPR as a dog squad officer arrived at the scene and pursued the offenders. No staff or patrons were injured during the hold-up. Two of the accused, a man and a woman, were arrested in nearby parkland.

One of them was bitten by a police dog, but did not need hospital treatment. A second man was arrested this morning after police cordoned off several streets around the tavern on Hotham Drive. Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson said he was confident all suspects directly involved were in police custody, "but that doesn’t include people on the periphery". Mr Atkinson said Senior Constable Leeding had put his personal safety at risk to protect the public. “We always wish that nothing like this will ever happen, but regrettably you cannot eliminate it as a possibility and of course last night the worst situation almost that you could possibly imagine for us has occurred,” he said. “It’s your worst nightmare. It’s what everyone dreads – the knock on the door in the middle of the night.

“Whilst we do all that we can to reduce risk, you can never eliminate it." Mr Wilson described Senior Constable Leeding as a family man and a talented triathlete. “He’s a confident and capable detective ... he led from the front,” he said. “To be in such a serious medical condition at the moment with grave fears for his life, it’s a tragedy.” Mr Wilson praised Senior Constable Leeding’s colleagues’ handling of the tragedy and said officers were getting lots of support.

“They’re all very stressed, but the police family is a marvellous organisation and we’ve all rallied around to look after them and their loved ones and families,” he said. A Major Incident Room has been established at Coomera police district headquarters. Senior Constable Leeding was stationed at Surfers Paradise police station after he graduated from the police academy in 2003. He then joined the Gold Coast Criminal Investigation Branch, before being posted to Coomera CIB when it was established 18 months ago. Queensland Police Union president Ian Leavers said the shooting was a tragic event.

"It is a very distressing time,’’ he said. “Damian is a married man - his wife is also a police officer and he has two very young children. “I’ve been on the scene, I’ve spoken with his police partner, his colleagues and I’ve also been to the hospital to see his family. Loading “Senior Constable Leeding acted in a courageous and brave manner last night and my only concern is for our thoughts and prayers to be with Damian and Sonya and their family.”



Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or Coomera Police on (07) 5514 7777.

- with Daniel Hurst and AAP

