Officers were called to reports of a carpark brawl at the Westfield in Mount Druitt around 3pm yesterday when it was packed with Saturday afternoon shoppers.
Two groups of women, aged in their 20s, were fighting with knives and machetes on the rooftop car park outside the Hoyts cinema, according to police.
NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Gavin Wood said a 29-year-old man came to the area following the scuffle and brought an “alarmingly sized” machete.
Wood said officers asked the man to drop the machete but he refused and continued to walk towards the group of women.
A police officer then fired a gun, striking and killing him.
The man was treated by paramedics but died at the scene.
Police allege the man’s wife was part of the group fighting in the carpark.
She was arrested and later released without charge pending further investigation, Wood said.
He said the two groups were not known to each other.
“It was an opportunistic meeting, they were not known to each other or have any gang affilation,” Wood said.
“It was a sheer fluke they met, crossed paths and a fight happened.”
The deceased man, who is a father of two young daughters, is local to the area.
He was also known to police but did not have an extensive criminal history, Wood said.
Police have launched a critical incident investigation.
“[It] will be subject to scrutiny, but their actions were brave,” Wood said of the officers involved.
“We will put our arms around those police.
“They are good people, they didn’t come into work yesterday knowing they had to shoot someone.”
He said he was “content” with the actions of the officers involved.
“The melee was very, very quick and very swift. And they’ve done their job. They’ve done it well,” he said.
Wood confirmed the carpark was locked down during the incident and at no point did the fight spill into the Westfield.
“Police were on-site and responded to a critical incident within the Westfield Mt Druitt car park this afternoon,” shopping centre owners Scentre Group said yesterday in a statement.
“Our team are providing full assistance to Police and Emergency Services.
“The safety and security of our customers, business partners and people is our highest priority.”
