The Entrance shooting: Man shot during police stand-off had his guns aimed at cops, himself
An investigation is underway to determine whether a man who was critically injured by a gunshot wound was shot by police, or himself.
Central Coast
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Investigators are attempting to confirm whether the bullet which critically injured a wanted man during a frightening confrontation with police was fired by an officer or the man himself.
According to police, one of two firearms being held by Daniel Bolton during the stand-off with officers at The Entrance on Wednesday morning was fired at almost the same time as an officer fired his high-powered rifle.
Bolton, who was wanted by police and had only been released from jail a few months ago, had allegedly rammed a police car during a pursuit and then taken officers on a foot chase in front of a school and open shops before he turned and allegedly pointed a .22 calibre rifle at himself and a handgun towards police.
One of several chasing police officers, who witnesses have said were heard continually calling on Bolton by name to stop and disarm himself, fired a bullet from his rifle almost at the same moment Bolton’s rifle was discharged.
Bolton was struck in the neck. He is the second person to be shot during a violent confrontation with police on the Central Coast in a week after a man was killed by police at Hamlyn Terrace last Thursday.
Bolton was treated at the scene before being flown by the Hunter Westpac rescue helicopter to the John Hunter Hospital for emergency surgery.
Senior police said Bolton remained in a critical condition late on Wednesday afternoon but his outlook is considered grave.
A critical incident investigation, set up as part of normal police protocol, will be handled by Lake Macquarie detectives and the homicide squad.
That investigation will look into who fired the bullet which struck Bolton.
“At this stage that appears to be the case but again, who fired what shot that all needs to be determined and investigated thoroughly and from a forensics point of view that will be determined in due course,’’ Northern Region commander Assistant Commissioner Max Mitchell told reporters.
He later added: “You are talking about potentially a high-risk armed offender and really it could have turned into an active armed offender incident with a strong possibility of danger to, whether it’s children or adults or business people.
Mr Mitchell said Bolton initiated a police pursuit in North Entrance after police had recognised he was wanted and tried to pull him over.
Witnesses said the car had been doing burnouts before police had arrived.
The pursuit continued into The Entrance central businesses district before it was terminated after a police car was rammed.
The car was driven a short distance away before Bolton and a woman got out of the car.
The woman was arrested but Bolton ran off, taking police on a foot chase along several streets.
“I have looked at body worn video. He has passed a school, numerous houses and also small businesses before crossing the main street at The Entrance,’’ Mr Mitchell said.
“He was challenged by police on a number of occasions. He was known and there was good communication at all times with this individual and at a point in time when challenged there was two gunshots.’’
Multiple witnesses said they heard police say over loudspeakers “put it down, put it down,” before a single shot was fired.
CCTV footage supplied by a witness shows the car driving past with the police close behind. Later, it shows a woman hiding in the garden.
A witness said she saw one woman “put her hands up and gave herself up easily” when police arrived.
However she told the Express Advocate she saw a second woman hiding in her front yard.
She said the woman, depicted in CCTV, hid in her yard until she saw a tradesman who was working at the property before fleeing into another yard.
A police spokeswoman however, said investigators were unaware of a third person being involved in the incident.
A resident on the corner of Gosford Ave and Warrigal St said he saw the man aim the rifle at his own head before a police officer fired a weapon.
