A man shot dead by police had partially severed his own sister’s arm in a horror overnight attack.
Officers were called to Yarra Junction, east of Melbourne, by the man’s mother after the pair, both aged in their 40s, got into a physical altercation.
On Thursday, Victoria Police Eastern Region Assistant Commissioner Russell Barrett told reporters the officers who responded to the call spoke to the mother outside the Warburton Highway home before being presented with a gruesome scene.
‘They then entered the bedroom and were confronted by a female who appeared to be unconscious and appeared to have a limb that was partially severed, being strangled by a man,’ Assistant Commissioner Barrett said.
The officers attempted to take down the crazed man with non-lethal force, firing their stun guns at him three times without success.
Left with little choice, the officers were forced to shoot the man as he continued to throttle his sister, Assistant Commissioner Barrett said.
‘It’s every police officer’s nightmare,’ he told reporters.
‘Both police officers are distressed. It’s not what they come to work to do.’
Police taped off the crime scene after shooting a man dead in Melbourne’s east
A sword was found inside the home.
Ambulance crews were called to the scene but the man could not be revived.
The woman was taken by air ambulance to hospital and is being treated for serious injuries.
Police said the man had a history of mental health issues.
‘Our hearts go out to the family. You can imagine what the mother’s going through at this moment,’ Assistant Commissioner Barrett said.
‘It’s tragic circumstances for the family and for a relatively small rural community, who know their community and know their police.’
Victorian state coroner John Cain attended the scene on Wednesday night.
Assistant Commissioner Barrett said the officers involved in the tragedy knew what they were getting into when they suited up for service on Wednesday.
Police swarmed on the Yarra Junction property after reports of shots being fired
‘They understand the realities of their job, they understand they go to houses regularly where violence is taking place, but they want to resolve things in a non-confrontational way,’ he said.
Homicide Squad detectives are now investigating the matter with oversight from the force’s Professional Standards Command, which is standard procedure for a fatal police shooting.
Assistant Commissioner Barrett said he had reviewed the officers’ body cameras and believed they ‘acted entirely appropriately and followed their training’.
Police have appealed for anyone who witnessed the incident or who could provide further information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
