‘Incredibly sad for everyone involved’: Man shot dead by police in Daisy Hill after seven-hour standoff

A 39-year-old man has been shot dead by police after firing a gun at a man and then hiding from police for seven hours in a shed in a tiny regional town in Victoria.

The property on Menzies Drive in Daisy Hill. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

A man has been shot dead by police following a seven-hour standoff at a property near Maryborough, in an incident that has been labelled “incredibly sad for everyone involved”.

Police rushed to Menzies Drive in the tiny town of Daisy Hill just before 3pm on Thursday following reports shots had been fired.

“One of these reports included a male who came to police indicating that he’d been confronted by a person and that person had shot at him, missing him narrowly,” Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Michael Grainger said on Friday.

Police said the 39 year-old man — who fired shots from inside a shed he was hiding in on the property — did not live at the address and the owners did not know him.

Officers tried to talk with the man when they arrived at the property but he made threats to shoot them and indicated he had a knife, bombs and explosives, they said.

Specialist units were sent to the property, including the dog squad, special operations group and a critical incident response team in an effort to safely resolve the matter.

The man shot at police with what is believed to be a homemade gun. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Police at the scene of the siege. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

“He wasn’t keen at all at engaging with police, who attempted to negotiate with him, but unfortunately could not,” Mr Grainger said.

One person told the Herald Sun they heard four shots fired “in quick succession”.

Neighbours said they heard police yell “get down on the ground” and “hands in the air” about 6.30pm — more than three hours before the siege turned fatal.

Police said the man came out of the shed just before 10pm, with what was believed to be a homemade gun, and then shot at police.

Two officers were in “proximity” to the man when he opened fire, which led to return fire by police.

The man was fatally wounded and died at the scene.

“Sadly they were forced to respond, exchange gunfire with him,” Mr Grainger said.

“This is something no police officer certainly wants to be involved in when they’re in work … it’s incredibly sad for everyone involved.”

No one else was injured in the gunfire exchange.

Homicide Squad detectives and forensic examiners at the scene on Friday. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Assistant commissioner Michael Grainer fronts the media after the fatal police shooting. Picture: Victoria Police

A Daisy Dr local said they believed the shot man was physically disabled.

Homicide Squad detectives are investigating the matter.

Originally published as ‘Incredibly sad for everyone involved’: Man shot dead by police in Daisy Hill after seven-hour standoff