Tenterfield man Corey Selby shot dead after pointing firearm at police

Police officers were forced to fire shots at a Tenterfield father after he pointed a firearm at them following a welfare check.

A Tenterfield father was shot dead by police after he pointed a firearm at officers following a welfare check.

Corey Selby, 48, went to Tenterfield Police Station with a firearm just after 5pm on Friday, after officers from the New England Police District conducted a welfare check on him.

Acting Assistant Commissioner Stephen Egginton on Friday said Selby followed police from his home to the police station, where he pointed the firearm at officers.

“The police sadly had no other option but to shoot and the man was fatally injured as a result,” Egginton said. “It’s a tragic set of circumstances for everyone involved.

“Police don’t go to work at any point in their careers and think they’re going to use their firearms.”

Corey Selby was shot dead by police at Tenterfield on January 19.

Selby owned a local flooring business.

Police and paramedics tried to revive Selby but he died on the grass outside the police station.

Acting Assistant Commissioner confirmed that while Selby was known to police, their interactions with him had been “limited”.

Police would not confirm how many shots were fired during the incident, or why police were called to check on Selby’s welfare.

A critical incident team made up of officers from State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad are now conducting an internal investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident, including the discharge of the police firearm.

Selby and his wife were well-known in the rural community, with the 48-year-old running a successful flooring business.

Locals who knew Selby said they were “horrified” by the incident.

“When we heard it was Corey who had been involved we were shocked,” one local, who wished to remain anonymous, said.

“We just knew him as a good bloke, a good dad, often took the kids to school.”

A crime scene was set up outside the police station, with specialist officers examining the area for much of Saturday.