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A man has been shot dead by police in northern Queensland overnight after a stand-off.
9News understands police were called to a house on Payne Street, Mount Louisa, a suburb of Townsville, for a mental health check just after midnight.
It's believed a man, 26, threatened police with a knife before they open-fired.
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The man, who was known to police, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Detectives have this morning established a crime scene and there is a heavy police presence on scene.
Acting Chief Superintendent Chris Lawson said the deceased man advanced on police officers with a knife, before police attempted to taser the man.
After the taser attempt failed, he said police were forced to shoot the 26-year-old.
Police immediately rendered first aid, but the man died.
"The circumstances around exactly what happened with the taser are actually not known at the moment," Lawson said.
"Once we've conducted an investigation and we've identified what exactly happened, we'll be able to provide that information through the coroner."
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It's unknown how many shots were fired at the man or if any police were injured during the incident.
While two police responded to the mental health check, around six police of varying ranks were on scene at the time of the shooting.
Lawson said Queensland Police was supporting the officers involved as well as the family of the dead man.
"We do have welfare teams provide support," Lawson said.
"We're also speaking with the relatives of the person who was shot because obviously it's a very traumatic time for them as well.
"We want to make sure that both the police and the family are kept up with all the support options that's available to them."
The shooting has been referred to the Ethical Standards Command who will investigate.
It's the second fatal shooting that's unfolded in the state in the past 24 hours after a woman was allegedly shot by an 18-year-old man north of Brisbane.
