Tenterfield police shooting: Inquest findings over death of Corey Selby revealed

A coroner has found a carpet fitter shot dead by police in regional NSW did not intend to hurt anyone, and only wanted to end his own life when he pointed a gun at officers.

Corey Selby, who was shot dead by police at Tenterfield in January 2023.

A carpet fitter shot dead by police after threatening to kill his family with an unregistered gun in regional NSW did not intend to hurt anybody, an inquest has found.

Corey Selby, 48, was shot dead by police outside Tenterfield Police Station on January 19, 2023, after he made threats to kill his family and pointed a gun at officers.

But NSW Deputy State Coroner Carmel Forbes has found Selby only wanted to end his life.

Ms Forbes said in her findings, which were handed down in the NSW Coroner’s Court on Friday, that Mr Selby had gone to the police station that day with an unloaded air rifle after earlier telling his wife to leave their home with their children and call Triple Zero, saying he had threatened them with a rifle.

He then said he would show police the rifle so they would shoot him.

Corey Selby.

Mrs Selby did as she was told, but Mr Selby also called emergency services and threatened to kill his family.

Mr Selby then drove to the Tenterfield Police Station with the unloaded air rifle and pointed it at officers as they ordered him to drop the weapon.

Ms Forbes told the court bodycam footage captured officers telling Mr Selby “we don’t want to shoot you”, to which he replied: “Just f---ing do it.”

Mr Selby then turned and approached other officers who had arrived on scene, raising the rifle to his shoulder and pointing it at them as he was ordered to stop moving.

Ms Forbes said the officers, who did not know the rifle was not loaded, felt there was an “imminent risk of injury or death” and three officers fired their weapons.

Mr Selby then collapsed and died an hour later, despite the best efforts of paramedics and officers.

Ms Forbes said Mr Selby had died from a gunshot wound to the chest and had pointed the unloaded rifle at police with the intention of ending his life.

Corey Selby, who died last year.

She said the incident was an “impulsive act” from Mr Selby, who had “no intention of hurting his family” or the police, and that she was satisfied Mr Selby only wanted the police to shoot him.

She said the police officers involved in the incident had no way of knowing Mr Selby’s weapon was not loaded, nor that he did not intend to hurt anybody, and described the incident as “a tragedy for all concerned”.

His actions were described as “out of character” and that he had a “complex relationship” with pain, alcohol and depression as well as an apparent issue with impulsivity.

The court was told Mrs Selby described her late husband as having “a big heart” and being her soulmate; and that the family were now figuring out how to navigate life without him.