A 15-year-old boy will face court following the fatal stabbing of a 70-year-old Queensland woman in a shopping centre car park.

The grandmother, named in media reports as Vyleen White, was stabbed in the chest at Redbank Plains, south-west of Brisbane, on Saturday and died at the scene a short time later.

She had been shopping with her six-year-old granddaughter, who was by her side when she was attacked. The little girl was unharmed.

Monday’s arrest came after a 15-year-old boy went to Ipswich Police Station on Sunday night. He has been charged with unlawful use of a motor vehicle.

It also followed the released of footage of an allegedly stolen Hyundai Getz depicting four youths. Police are still searching for the other three.

Ipswich Mayor Theresa Harding said on Monday the attack was not the type of crime that would normally happen in the area.

“It’s really shocking for us as a community,” she told Seven’s Sunrise program.

“It is a punch in the guts, it’s brought us to tears.”

Police are also reviewing CCTV footage of the incident.

Detective acting Superintendent Heath McQueen said the video was difficult to watch.

“It’s extremely confronting for first responders, bystanders who intervened shortly after to provide medical assistance,” he said.

On Sunday, McQueen said police were looking for four people, but only one man was responsible for the murder.

“There is still one person involved in the attack,” he said.

“I have a vehicle located approximately 30 minutes after the events and I have four males exiting that vehicle.

“You can see why we need to conduct investigations.”

McQueen said police needed the public’s help.

“It’s a cowardly crime like I’ve not seen in my time as a detective,” he said.

“This is a murder of a 70-year-old grandmother in front of her six-year-old granddaughter.

“Now is not the time to remain tight-lipped.

“Now is the time … to provide us with the information we need to identify the offenders who are responsible for this murder.”

Some Redbank Plains residents want more police presence at the shopping centre following the attack.

“The community want a permanent police beat at the Redbank Plains town square,” Harding said.

“It is the biggest shopping precinct in the area, it is very popular.

“It is a place for the community to come together as well. I hope the state government listens and do establish a police beat here.”

On Sunday, Queensland Premier Steven Miles described the attack as “an abhorrent crime, a terribly violent crime, a crime committed, it sounds like, in front of a very young relative of the victim”.

The 15-year-old boy is expected to appear at Ipswich Children’s Court on Monday.

-with AAP