A Queensland man, implicated in the brutal killing of a senior citizen using a metal rod and injuring two others in a chaotic spree, has an extensive record of violent behavior.
Richard Babos, aged 36 and residing in Bundaberg West, now faces charges of murder, attempted murder, among other crimes, after his alleged rampage unfolded on the Fraser Coast this past Wednesday.
The series of events purportedly began when Babos’s silver Subaru Liberty was involved in a traffic altercation on the Bruce Highway at Glenorchy around 1:45 PM.
Authorities claim he intentionally reversed his car into a Tesla, verbally assaulted the driver, and then left the scene hastily.
Approximately 45 minutes later, in the town of Childers, Babos is accused of reversing his Subaru into a Mitsubishi Pajero on North Street at around 2:30 PM.
The Pajero’s driver, a 65-year-old resident of Howard, stepped out to assess the collision damage when Babos allegedly reversed into him again and then exited his vehicle to repeatedly strike the man in the head. The victim was subsequently taken to Bundaberg Hospital, suffering from severe head injuries.
Police allege he then drove out of town and used a metal pole to attack an elderly man walking his dog on White Bridge Road at North Isis at about 2.40pm.
The 78-year-old later died from his injuries.
Richard Babos, 36, from Bundaberg West, has been charged with murder, attempted murder and other offences following his alleged crime spree on the Fraser Coast on Wednesday
The 36-year-old was detained by police after allegedly killing an elderly man with a metal pole
The alleged killer returned to Childers where police say he began choking a 66-year-old man with a garden hose at the intersection of Lord and Crescent streets at about 2.55pm.
Witnesses said the man appeared to be suffering a psychotic episode, before locals intervened and restrained him. An off-duty police officer arrested him at the scene.
Babos has now been charged with murder, attempted murder, acts intended to maim, disfigure or disable, dangerous operation of a vehicle and evasion offences.
The allegations are the latest in a string of violent incidents involving Babos stretching back years.
In 2021, Brisbane District Court heard how Babos stabbed a police officer during an arrest in 2019, inflicting a 2.5cm wound to the officer’s jugular vein.
The court heard Babos believed the officer was a ‘vampire or a demon’ and acted out of fear for his own life.
After overpowering the officer, Babos fled on foot and was later found shirtless at a nearby home.
Armed with a stolen shovel, he had broken into the property demanding car keys.
The allegations are the latest in a string of violent incidents involving Babos stretching back years
Multiple crime scenes were declared across the region after the series of alleged attacks
During the terrifying ordeal, Babos warned the homeowners he needed the keys because he was ‘going to be killed by police’.
The court heard he had been heavily abusing drugs throughout the offending period, fuelling severe psychotic symptoms, but was still considered to have prospects of rehabilitation.
Just days earlier, Babos had verbally abused a security guard at the Myer Centre before shoving the man’s radio into his mouth.
He later pleaded guilty to offences including grievous bodily harm, stealing, trespass and obstructing police.
Babos was sentenced to five and a half years behind bars, with his sentence due to expire on January 10, 2025.
However, because he had already spent more than two years in pre-sentence custody, he became eligible for immediate parole.
At the time, defence lawyer Marielle D’Souza told the court the Sydney-raised warehouse worker had been struggling with the death of his grandmother and had turned to alcohol following her funeral.
Then in May 2024, Babos was again arrested following a tense stand-off at a Sunshine Coast service station.
In 2024 the court heard he had been heavily abusing drugs throughout the offending period but was still considered to have prospects of rehabilitation
Police were called after he allegedly became aggressive towards a staff member, who believed he was armed with a knife.
It later emerged the weapon was a screwdriver.
During the confrontation, Babos threatened to stab police, forcing one officer to draw a firearm while another deployed a taser.
Once in custody, Babos allegedly yelled ‘jihad’, an Islamic term often associated with extremist violence against non-believers.
The court also heard he shoved an elderly man to the ground during the outburst while the pensioner was buying his morning newspaper.
Witnesses claimed he screamed at bystanders to ‘shut the f*** up’.
Babos spent 132 days behind bars before pleading guilty to going armed to cause fear, obstructing police and public nuisance offences.
He was sentenced to ten months in jail but was again eligible for immediate parole.
Once in custody, Babos allegedly yelled ‘jihad’, an Islamic term often associated with extremist violence against non-believers
A family friend of the elderly man who died on Wednesday described him as a ‘very nice guy’ who loved taking his dog for a walk.
‘He was very friendly and outgoing,’ he told media.
‘He was always walking his dog, taking him out for daily walks.
‘He was friendly every time we drove past, he’d always wave at us. He walked down that street pretty much every single day.’
Babos will appear at Gladstone Magistrates Court via video link on Thursday.
Investigations are ongoing and anyone with further information or relevant footage is urged to contact police.
