Cops open fire at Campbelltown train station after Taser fails to subdue madman
Police shot a man in front of dozens of schoolchildren outside a busy south-western Sydney train station after he lunged at them with a knife.
NSW
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Police shot a man in front of dozens of schoolchildren outside a busy south-western Sydney train station after he lunged at them with a knife.
Officers confronted the man at the bus interchange on Hurley St, outside Campbelltown Railway Station, at 2.45pm on Wednesday because he was acting “suspiciously”.
When officers questioned the man he became aggressive, swearing and threatening the four Police Transport Command officers before producing a 30cm knife.
One officer deployed a Taser but witnesses said the man ripped out the prongs and continued to threaten police.
As he ran at them one of the officers shot the man once in the stomach. Officers held him down as he was administered first aid.
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A witness said the police had little choice.
“He tried to run at police with a knife and then he got shot,” a child told Channel 7.
Lachlan Devine said it was a grisly scene.
“He was laying on the floor, there was blood coming out,” Mr Devine said.
The man, aged in his 30s, was treated by paramedics before being taken to Liverpool Hospital where he underwent surgery.
The man, who was in serious condition on Wednesday night, had no identification on him.
Police flooded the train station and cordoned off the area as shocked students waiting for their buses home watched on.
“This is the time buses arrive to pick up school kids to take them home,” one woman said.
“You can see how many school kids there are now. Usually it’s very busy here at this time of the afternoon.”
A black sports bag and first aid kit marked the spot where the man was shot, along with a bullet casing located near a fluoro orange witches hat.
NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Peter Thurtell told reporters the man was acting suspiciously when the uniformed officers approached him
“They went to confront this male and he produced a knife,” he said.
“A short time later the police fired a Taser which was ineffective.
“He again came at police with a knife described to me as about 30cm and a single shot was fired into the male. Police immediately commenced first aid.”
When asked about reports the man was being questioned for not buying a train ticket he said: “That is incorrect”.
A critical incident investigation has been launched into the shooting which was filmed by several security cameras at the bus exchange and train station.