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Help Us Get Justice for Luke
On 1 October 2022, our son Luke Gilbert, a 24 year old tradesman, was shot dead by Queensland police in Airlie Beach. He was provoked by a cop allegedly rejected by his girlfriend. Luke was not under arrest, was not suspected of committing any crime, and was simply crossing the road at the time of the fatal encounter.
The circumstances surrounding Luke’s death are deeply troubling. Evidence suggests that the interaction was initiated by a police officer with a prior personal connection to Luke’s girlfriend, who had allegedly rejected that officer in the past. Hours before the shooting, this same officer was observed watching Luke and his girlfriend during breakfast in a local cafe. Later that day, Luke was challenged, provoked, threatened and shot multiple times.
Despite Luke standing still and complying with initial requests to show what he had, which was a work utility penknife that he held down by his side the entire time posing no threat, police threatened him with their firearms luring him around the corner onto the path. Luke did not lunge or threaten anyone yet seconds later they discharged their weapons and CCTV shows that Luke was further away from police at the time shots were fired than when the interaction began.
Police allegedly fired five shots which is not true. Three bullets struck Luke in the chest, killing him, while others struck nearby vehicles and a bus stop. Luke was unarmed in the sense that he did not use or threaten with any weapon. To this day, no independent ballistics report has been produced.
Coronial Inquest Concerns
In August 2023, a coronial inquest into Luke’s death was finalised. Rather than rigorously examining police conduct, the inquest placed disproportionate focus on Luke himself. Key concerns include:
•The denial of public access to CCTV footage
•The exclusion of new and relevant evidence
•Vital and significant evidence being withheld from expert review
•Evidence that appears inconsistent, altered, or unreliable
•Witness statements that conflict with available facts
•The absence of critical witnesses for Luke, including his girlfriend
These issues have left us with serious unanswered questions and no confidence that the full truth has been examined. When police investigate police, independence and accountability are compromised.
Why We Need Your Help
Our petition calling for an independent inquiry into Luke’s death has gathered over 40,000 signatures, reflecting widespread public concern. We are now forced to pursue further investigations ourselves in order to uncover the truth.
Funds raised will be used for:
•Independent legal advice
•Expert reports and forensic analysis
•Evidence review and reconstruction
•Right to Information (RTI) applications and QCAT appeals
•Travel and associated investigation costs
This fight is not only for Luke, but for accountability, transparency, and justice so that no other family is left in the dark after a police killing.
Luke mattered. Truth matters. Justice demands better.
Thank you for standing with us and helping us continue the fight for Justice for Luke.
More information can be found here…