Hilal Barbour shot dead in Yagoona after attacking a female police officer

The man shot dead by police in Sydney’s south-west has been identified as more details come to light over the incident.

Police have shot dead a man armed with a knife after being called to a domestic violence incident in south-west Sydney this morning.

The man was believed to be Hilal Barbour, with several social media posts paying tribute to the deceased male.

Barbour was threatening a person at a residence in William St, Yagoona when officers from Bankstown Police Area Command arrived at the scene shortly before 9am.

NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Stuart Smith said the two general duties cops were responding to reports a 29-year-old man was threatening members of his own family inside the home with a shovel.

But when the two officers knocked the door, they were confronted by the alleged offender brandishing two large knives.

Hilal Barbour was believed to be the man shot dead by police. Picture: SCN Worldstar

“The junior officer deployed a Taser, and that had an impact on the 29-year-old, however he used the knives to disable that device,” the Assistant Commissioner said.

The man then swung wildly at the officers, and the female officer lost her footing in the confrontation, falling to the ground.

A man has been shot dead by police on William St, Yagoona. Picture: Tim Pascoe

Her male partner fired three rounds at the attacker, whom Assistant Commissioner Smith said was “attempt(ing) to wound or kill the male police officer”.

“I can only describe it as a very frightening event for both police and anyone who witnessed it,” he said.

“(The officers) didn’t expect to be confronted by such a vicious attack.”

Police began first aid at the scene until the arrival of NSW Ambulance paramedics.

The man died at Liverpool Hospital a short time later.

The man died in hospital soon after. Picture: Tim Pascoe

An apprehended violence order was registered for the home, and was in place against the 29-year-old, the Assistant Commissioner confirmed.

Both officers sustained superficial injuries during the incident, including a small knife wound to the neck of the male officer.

It is not yet known whether any of the family members inside the home were injured in the ordeal.

At the scene of the incident, a large group of men claiming to be relatives of the attacker and his family were briefly involved in a verbal skirmish with police, who refused to allow them behind the cordon on William St.

One of the nearby neighbours, who asked not to be named, said his children were at home at the time of the shooting while he and his partner were out shopping.

His young son heard multiple gunshots.

“I heard gunshots, and I went upstairs to see what what happening with my sister,” the young boy said.

“I looked out to see lots and lots of police.”

A critical incident team comprised of officers from State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad will now investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident, including the discharge of a police firearm.

That investigation will be subject to independent review.

A report is being prepared for the coroner.