THE unit where a man wanted over the murder of a teenager is holed up is part of a holiday apartment complex booked out as Queensland’s lurcartive school holidays get underway.
Fugitive Zlatko Sikorsky, 34, has been in a stand-off from inside a Headland Gardens unit on the Sunshine Coast with heavily armed police outside since Friday afternoon. He is believed to be in possession of a firearm and is considered “extremely dangerous”. Sikorsky has been at the centre of a manhunt since Wednesday when police attended an address in Logan to make inquiries about missing person Larissa Beilby, 16.
A man believed to be Sikorsky took off in a black ute with a girl’s body in a barrel — which is yet to be formally identified — before dumping the car at another address in Stapylton, about 20 minutes away. The man made a second escape in another vehicle and was not seen again until police located him at the Headland Gardens holiday apartments in Alexandra Headlands today.
News.com.au understands the complex is fully booked tonight — the first night of Qld school holidays — and remains on lockdown as the siege continues.
A Qld Police spokeswoman told news.com.au that everyone staying in “adjoining units” to the alleged gunman had been evacuated while others in the complex remained in lockdown on strict instructions not to leave their rooms or go on their balconies. An exclusion zone has also been actioned and an emergency situation declared.
“Tonight we’re negotiating with a man believed responsible for a homicide in Logan,” police superintendent Darryl Johnson told reporters.
Sikorsky told police he “will shoot if they come near [him]”, according to 9 News.
News.com.au has contacted the Headland Gardens holiday apartments manager for comment.
The complex, on Juan St in Alexandra Headlands, offers “spacious resort-style holiday complexes” and features 27 self contained units, according to the company’s website.
Apartments require a minimum two night booking with rates in school holidays starting from $500.
One witness said it appeared police were focusing their attention on an apartment above the ground floor. The complex offers several different types of rooms but it is unclear which one Sikorsky is currently inside.
“Our 1, 2 and 3 bedroom holiday units all have Foxtel, Wi-Fi is available, most apartments have 2 bathrooms and our 1st and 2nd level units have balconies with either ocean views or overlook our sparkling pool and tropical gardens,” the Headland Gardens site reads.
“The ground floor holiday units all have courtyards, (some front and back) with garden and pool views.”
Special Emergency Response Team police officers have been negotiating with Sikorsky, since 3.25pm Friday, the situation still current late into the night. Many residents and holiday-makers have taken to social media to express their fear at being in lockdown amid the drama at the popular family destination.
It is not yet clear when or how Sikorsky came to be inside the apartment but Superintendent Darryl Johnson this evening told reporters the suspect was“contained”.
“We’re negotiating and we’re hoping we’ll come out with a successful resolution,” he said.
“We’re hoping to resolve the situation peacefully.”
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