Man shot dead at Nowra medical centre identified as Alexander Pinnock

A patient shot dead by police at a Nowra medical centre has been identified, as extraordinary footage shows the moment officers were forced to open fire on the armed man. Warning: Graphic

A man shot dead in a hail of 15 bullets by police at Nowra had a long history of mental health issues, including battling schizophrenia, and had been previously made headlines for being a fake lawyer.

Alexander Stuart Pinnock, 34, armed himself with a weapon and went into a medical centre on the NSW south coast about 1pm on Wednesday, resulting in a siege situation unfolding.

Police were quickly on the scene and managed to evacuate other patients and doctors in the surgery, but when Pinnock came at police about 2.40pm with a weapon in his hand he was shot dead.

Pinnock had previously been scheduled for his serious mental health issues, and had a history of needing treatment in other states including South Australia, Victoria and Queensland.

Pinnock had been on the disability support pension since 2007 and in the middle of 2023 was homeless briefly, before obtaining emergency housing in Nowra.

Alexander Pinnock was armed with a gun when he was shot dead at a medical centre in Nowra on Wednesday.

He last year pleaded guilty to being a fake lawyer, who under the false name “Alec Stuart” represented clients in court, including pleaded not guilty for one in a criminal matter.

“I sincerely apologise for my actions, I feel a deep sense of regret for everybody involved,” Pinnock said outside court at the time.

The Daily Telegraph understands a police critical incident investigation, being led by the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad, is looking into whether the weapon used by Pinnock was a Glock - or a replica.

Extraordinary footage emerged on Wednesday night of the moment NSW Police officers opened fire on Pinnock, shooting him dead through the front door of a doctor’s surgery.

A still from a video shows the moment officers shot the armed man.

Police at the scene in Nowra, on the NSW south coast.

The shooting followed an armed confrontation on Junction Street in Nowra on Wednesday afternoon.

Assistant Commissioner Peter Cotter said the incident began when Pinnock became aggressive during a doctor’s appointment about 1pm.

“During conversations with the doctor the man has become very agitated and spoken many alarming things,” Assistant Commissioner Cotter said.

“The conversation was agitated, the conversation was confrontational and thereafter the man produced a gun.”

Witnesses said people ran from the scene as heavily armed police arrived and locked down the area.

Four people were able to escape the doctor’s surgery before the shooting started - leaving police to negotiate with the gunman through the open door.

The medical centre where the incident unfolded. Picture: Supplied

It’s understood officers were locked in negotiations with Pinnock for nearly two hours before the situation escalated further.

Assistant Commissioner Cotter said at one point a ballistic shield being held by police was dropped, which was picked up by the armed man, who brandished a firearm at the officers.

Speaking on the mental state of the officers involved, Asst Comm Cotter said the officers “did their very very best to negotiate with this person, he brandished a gun at them, he was armed with one of our own shields... there was fear in their minds and they acted upon that fear.

The critical incident investigation will be independently reviewed by the Professional Standards Command and the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission.

Police arrived at the scene about 1pm to reports a medical patient had produced a weapon. Picture: Channel 9

The Daily Telegraph revealed dramatic footage of the shooting that followed, filmed by a bystander in a nearby business.

In the footage six armed police officers in SWAT gear are seen outside the medical centre, talking to a man at the entrance.

Officers are heard on camera yelling “taser” before one officer runs away from the centre.

Seconds later the armed man is seen running back inside the medical centre, before officers opened fire.

In total fifteen bullets are fired, with the bystander filming heard saying “oh my god they shot him, oh my god they shot him.”

Police believe there were a number of people in the vicinity who may have witnessed the incident and are appealing for those people to come forward or contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.