Queensland police officers gunned down by conspiracy theorists funeral

Thousands of police officials, friends and family will gather on Wednesday to honour the two brave Queensland police officers who were tragically gunned down at a rural property.

Constables Matthew Arnold, 26, and Rachel McCrow, 29, were shot dead by former school principal Nathaniel Train, his brother Gareth, and his wife Stacey, at the Train’s rural property in Wieambilla, three hours west of Brisbane, last week.

Neighbour Alan Dare was also killed while fellow officers, Keely Brough and Randall Kirk, managed to make it out alive.

The Trains were later shot dead by police after engaging them in a shootout.

A state funeral service with full police honours will be held for constables Arnold and McCrow at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre at 10am Queensland time. 

A funeral service with full police honours will be held today for Queensland constables Matthew Arnold, 26, and Rachel McCrow, 29 

Around 8000 people are expected to attend the funeral under heavy security which includes a strict no filming rule of any members of the slain constables’ families. 

Free tickets were made available for those wishing to attend on Monday and the service will also be broadcast on television. 

Following the ceremony, mounted police, members of the dog squad, a police pipe and drum band and officers in police cars and on motorcycles will form a guard of honour on the road outside. 

Private funeral ceremonies for each of the McCrow and Arnold families will be held following the public memorial.

 Queensland Police Commissioner Katrina Carroll said the attack was an ‘unimaginable tragedy’.

‘Those officers did not stand a chance. The fact that two got out alive is a miracle,’ she said.

‘Both under 30 years of age. Both had wonderful careers and lives ahead of them.’

Constable Arnold’s triplet sister, Hayley, said she had felt ‘physical heartbreak pain’ since she was told he had been killed.

Constable Matthew Arnold was shot dead at point blank range at the remote property

Constable Rachel McCrow was a beautiful person and kind soul, her former partner said

‘There are no words to express our loss,’ Ms Arnold wrote on social media.

‘I can’t begin to explain the love and bond we had. As triplets, we were born together and were meant to grow old together.’

Constable McCrow’s former partner, Luke, told local newspaper the Country Caller she would ‘do anything for you’.

‘I’m absolutely shattered and I don’t just speak for myself but I speak for everyone because Rachel was just a beautiful person,’ he said.

‘You can’t take that away from her and she just didn’t deserve this at all.

‘She was always there to listen, always there to have fun – just a really kind soul and just her as an overall person I think’s hard to come by.’