UPDATED: A MOTHER of four shot dead in front of horrified diners at a Helensvale McDonald’s restaurant had only just moved to the Gold Coast to start a new life.

Karina Lock, 49, left her old life - and her former partner Stephen - behind in Maryborough last month to make a fresh start with her teenage daughter on the Gold Coast.

She agreed to meet her estranged partner at the suburban McDonald’s restaurant just after 9am on Thursday morning.

media_camera Karina Lock.

Minutes later, she was shot in the head and died on the floor of the restaurant as diners and employees cowered in terror.

The gunman then turned the weapon on himself.

Mr Lock is on life support with serious head injuries and is not expected to survive.

EARLIER

A WITNESS to this morning’s McDonald’s murder at Helensvale has described the terrifying moment he locked eyes with a killer.

The man, who called in to the Gold Coast restaurant only moments before the gunman, said it was a horrific experience.

“I heard a woman get out of a car in the car park saying: ‘he’s crazy, he’s trying to kill me’ and she came inside the restaurant,” he said.

“The guy followed in about 30 seconds later and put his arm around her and shot her.

“Then he stood over her and turned the gun in himself.

“His expression did not change the whole time.

“It was horrific. You think whether there was anything I could have done but I don’t think so.

“It all happened so fast.”

media_camera Horrific scenes at the site of the McDonald's double shooting. Photo: Supplied

The woman had only moved to the Gold Coast a month ago to make a fresh start.

It is believed the woman, 49, left Maryborough on the central Queensland coast last month, ending her relationship with the 57-year-old man accused of shooting her twice at close range in the busy restaurant.

It is understood she agreed to meet him this morning at McDonald’s because it was a public place.

“It appears this prearranged meeting ended in an argument. He has shot her in the back and she has run into the store where she was shot again,” an emergency service source said.

The gunman shot the woman dead in front of terrified staff and customers at a Gold Coast McDonald’s this morning and then turned the firearm on himself.

The woman was allegedly shot in the head just after running into the dining area of the McDonald’s restaurant on Siganto Drive, Helensvale about 9.20am.

NEWS: HOW POLICE TURNED TARA AWAY

A police source told the Gold Coast Bulletin the woman was initially shot in the back before she entered the restaurant.

The man — believed to be her estranged partner — chased her inside, shot her again in the head and then turned the gun on himself.

media_camera Family members rushed to the scene. Pics Adam Head

He is in Gold Coast University Hospital with “critical injuries to the head’’.

Detective Inspector Mark Whyte confirmed the woman and man arrived at the restaurant separately before the terrifying shooting happened.

Customers were inside the restaurant at the time.

The woman died at the scene despite the efforts of police and ambulance officers, who performed CPR.

The woman’s body was still inside the store hours after the shooting.

media_camera A man — alleged to be the shooter — is worked on by paramedics at McDonald's Helensvale. Photo: AAP

The man was allegedly disarmed at the scene, with police officers reportedly taking a gun from his hand.

The sister-in-law of the dead woman ran to the scene minutes after the shooting.

She broke down talking to police.

“When she put her head on my shoulder and started crying I could barely hold back my own tears,” Sgt John Kaz said.

media_camera Police comfort a woman at the scene of the Helensvale McDonald’s double shooting. Picture Mike Batterham

Staff have been released from the McDonald’s restaurant where they were hugged by distressed family.

Operations Supervisor at Queensland Ambulance, Gavin Fuller, said it was a shocking scene for all involved.

“We responded to calls of two patients with gunshot wounds to the head, when the first ambulance vehicle arrived police were already on the scene performing CPR on the woman,” he said.

“After an assessment the woman was declared deceased and the male patient was treated by an intensive care paramedic who ‘put him to sleep’ and made sure his airway was protected.

“The male has been transported to the Gold Coast University Hospital in a critical condition.”

Witnesses were taken to Coomera Police Station to give statements but Det Insp Whyte appealed to anyone with information on the incident who had not yet spoken to police to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Det Insp Whyte said many of the witnesses were “quite distraught’’. They are receiving counselling support.

Anyone experiencing difficulties should contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.

If you are experiencing family violence, call 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)

media_camera The motorcycle officer was first at the scene and worked on the fatally injured woman. Picture Mike Batterham

media_camera The shooting crime scene at Helensvale McDonald’s. Pics Adam Head

media_camera Distressing scenes at Helensvale McDonald’s. Pics Adam Head

Helensvale McDonalds shooting Emotional scenes as staff leave McDonalds after Helensvale shooting

media_camera A man and a woman have been shot at a McDonald's store at Helensvale. Photo: Channel 9

media_camera Ambulance officers take a man to hospital with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound after he allegedly shot a woman dead at a Helensvale McDonald's. Photo: Channel 9

More to come.