A man has been fatally shot after allegedly confronting police with a loaded rifle on a major highway.
Two officers opened fire after the 36-year-old man emerged from a stolen car alongside the Bruce Highway in central Queensland and pointed the rifle at them, police say.
The man had allegedly stolen a vehicle containing the rifle and ammunition south of Gladstone on Monday.
Police said he later confronted a 61-year-old woman at a Colosseum address with the weapon, demanding car keys.
"He has then stolen another four wheel drive utility from that address, driving through ... (and) destroying the front gate on the way out," Detective Superintendent Darrin Shadlow told reporters on Tuesday.
A police patrol later came across the stolen ute on the Bruce Highway but did not try to intercept it.
Det Supt Shadlow said the man then parked on the side of the highway and got out, pointing the loaded rifle at police.
Officers told him to drop the weapon but "he didn't do that and unfortunately police had to engage and subsequently shot that male person".
Officers performed CPR and paramedics were called but the man died at the scene.
"It's obviously a very tragic circumstance," Det Supt Shadlow said.
"Police don't go to work expecting this to happen. However, they are trained and they are ready if something like this does happen.
"Unfortunately this male person has given the police no option."
Det Supt Shadlow would not detail how many shots were fired by police but said assistance would be provided to the officers involved.
"They were shaken up yesterday afternoon. All support is being given to them," he said.
The incident is being investigated by Ethical Standards Command.
The Bruce Highway was closed for hours before it was reopened on Monday night.
The 36-year-old man was initially from Cairns in the far north but had been "in and around" central Queensland for the past week.
"We have had some interactions with him," Det Supt Shadlow said.
Police have not received any reports that the man had earlier fired at members of the public, he said.
Anyone with information or dashcam footage should contact police.
