[ad_1]
Police have shot dead a man who pulled out a firearm at a medical centre before confronting officers on the street outside.
At least four people who were in the medical centre on Junction Street in Nowra when the incident unfolded about 1pm on Wednesday were able to escape.
Southern Region Commander Assistant Commissioner Peter Cotter said the 34-year-old man had been in a consultation with a doctor when he became agitated.
“During conversations with the doctor the man has become very agitated and spoken many alarming things,” Assistant Commissioner Cotter said.
“The conversation was agitated, the conversation was confrontational and thereafter the man produced a gun.”
Witnesses said people ran from the scene as heavily armed police arrived and locked down the area.
“The SWAT team came in, and everyone was cleared [from the street],” shop owner Hollie Spence told the ABC.
“And then probably within 20 minutes, we heard quite a lot of gunshots all at once.”
Police were locked in negotiations with the 34-year-old man for nearly two hours before officers opened fire on the street.
It is understood officers attempted to negotiate with the man before he walked out of clinic and confronted officers
Southern Region Commander Assistant Commissioner Peter Cotter said it was a “tragic” situation for the officers involved and the family of the man.
“They did their very, very best to negotiate with him,” Assistant Commissioner Cotter said.
He said police on scene were “experienced” officers, with most having spent years in the force and having tactical training.
Assistant Commissioner Cotter said up to four people in the doctor’s surgery at the time the man entered and brandished the gun.
“The people were able to make good their escape; three of them almost immediately. the fourth a short time later,” he said.
It’s understood the man was known to the clinic.
The man, who is yet to be formally identified, was shot by police at about 2.40pm, before he received immediate medical attention from paramedics.
He was unable to be revived and died at the scene.
The use of force used during the incident will be independently reviewed and a team from the State Crime Command Homicide Squad will investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Assistant Commissioner Cotter said the investigation will largely surround how the man was able to obtain the firearm and what exactly led up to the tense engagement.
[ad_2]
Source link
