A man who was shot several times by police in Townsville is in a stable condition, a senior officer says.
Regional Crime Co-ordinator Detective Superintendent Ray Rohweder said two patrolling police officers came across the 25-year-old local man at a Hermit Park service station about 4.20am on Monday.
"As a result of their engagement with the male person a situation occurred, during which a police officer was injured and also the male person received a number of gunshot wounds," he told reporters at the scene.
Supt Rohweder refused to say why police decided to speak to the man.
"They just had reasons to pick him up - that's part of the ongoing investigation," he said.
He said one officer received an arm injury, but didn't need to go to hospital, while the shot man was taken to Townsville Base Hospital for treatment.
"We've been advised that he's in a stable condition," he said.
His condition looked to have improved, given police had earlier advised the man was critical.
Supt Rohweder wouldn't say how many times the man was shot or whether both officers fired weapons at him, telling reporters that would form part of the Ethical Standards Command's investigation.
Both officers' weapons had been handed over to ballistics experts for investigation.
Supt Rohweder refused to confirm reports the man had earlier been tasered while armed with a bat, only saying the man was armed when police found him.
He said Ethical Standards Command officers would interview the officers and several witnesses.
"Police, literally every time they start a shift, they don't know what's going to happen," Supt Rohweder said.
"It just goes to show that police often walk into these situations where it's very difficult to control."
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