Loganlea State High School Locked Down After Police Find Gel Blaster on Neridah Street

The Lockdown

Police were called to Neridah Street, Loganlea, about 9am on 29 April following reports of a man allegedly carrying what appeared to be a firearm near Loganlea State High School.

The school went into lockdown as a precaution. About 9.30am, staff sent a message to parents confirming police had been contacted. Students returned to class about 20 minutes after the lockdown began.

9News Queensland reported “hundreds of students and teachers” were sent into lockdown that morning.

What Police Found

Officers located the man on Neridah Street and confirmed he was holding a gel blaster, a replica firearm that fires water-soaked gel pellets. The 27-year-old was arrested at the scene.

Police told MyCity Logan “no one was injured or threatened during the incident, and there was no risk to the wider community”. No charges had been laid as of the afternoon of 29 April. Police said investigations were continuing.

The man’s suburb of residence has not been released.

Gel Blasters in Queensland

Gel blasters are not firearms under the Weapons Act 1990, but the Queensland Police Service classifies them as controlled items because they closely resemble real guns. Owners do not need a weapons licence.

Reforms that took effect on 1 September 2024 restricted gel blaster sales to people aged 18 and over and required sellers to verify a buyer’s age. Owners must have a “reasonable excuse” for possession, and the items must not be carried in public in a way that is visible to other people. Gel blasters must also be stored in a locked container when not in use.

Queensland Police guidance warns that visible replica firearms in public can prompt police responses identical to those for real weapons.

The School

Loganlea State High School sits on Neridah Street in Loganlea. The school is led by principal Kiri Griffiths.

Education Queensland had not issued a public statement on the incident at the time of publication. The school’s official social media accounts had not posted about the lockdown.