A man has been shot dead by police on the NSW Mid North Coast after stabbing a woman multiple times, leading officers on a pursuit and ramming their vehicles, before running at them with a knife.
The 28-year-old woman was flown to Newcastle’s John Hunter Hospital in a serious but stable condition with serious injuries after she was attacked in a home on Heath Avenue, Tuncurry early on Friday morning.
The 41-year-old man, believed to be in a defacto relationship with the woman, fled as officers responded to reports of a home invasion involving a knife and a chainsaw.
It’s believed he stole a white 4WD at a nearby service station. He was later spotted on Stewart Parade, Tuncurry, driving through a sporting field as police gave chase.
The man carjacked a ute after crashing on the Forster-Tuncurry Bridge, ramming police cars and injuring an officer. The man then fled to another home on Idlewoods Crescent, Rainbow Flat.
Still armed with a knife, the man emerged from the home and confronted police, who unsuccessfully attempted to subdue him with a Taser.
Officers followed him into a neighbouring home, where he was Tasered multiple times, but continued on, NSW Police Assistant Commissioner David Waddell said.
“He ran towards a police officer and was fatally shot,” Waddell said.
Police gave first aid, but the man was declared dead at the scene.
“We have had to use lethal force by firing of a firearm, but that was only after multiple attempts to stop this man using a Taser, and there was a direct threat to the police officer’s life,” Waddell said.
“We’re definitely not ruling out domestic violence, and we’ll be looking at the domestic violence history,” Waddell said.
A critical incident has been declared, and homicide detectives are investigating the incident with oversight from the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission.
“The exact nature and circumstances, the motive, whether it’s domestic violence related – which we believe there is definitely a domestic aspect to it – mental health or drugs, will be part of this critical incident investigation,” Waddell said.
Jack Gramenz is a breaking news reporter at The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via email.
