‘Why did they kill him?’: Ben Madex’s sister issues plea after Drouin police shooting
The sister of an armed carjacker shot dead by police in Drouin said he should not have been killed as he was mentally ill and battling drug issues.
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The sister of an armed carjacker shot dead by police in Drouin said he should not have been killed.
Morwell man Ben Madex, 31, was shot twice after coming at police with a knife following a crime spree across Gippsland on Thursday.
His grieving sister, Jodie Madex, said he was mentally troubled and needed help.
“My brother had severe mental illness and drug issues. He has been in and out of juvey (sic) and jail his whole life. Why did they kill him when he was armed with a knife?” she said.
“They could of (sic) wounded him, put him in hospital (and) got him the help he needs.”
Ms Madex said “we live in a broken system” and that they were denied help for her brother prior to his death.
She added: “The cop better be held responsible for his actions”.
The investigation into Mr Madex’s death is being handled by the homicide squad and will be overseen by the Professional Standards Command, as is standard protocol when a police firearm is discharged.
Mr Madex was no stranger to authorities and was sentenced to three and a half years imprisonment for an armed robbery at Mirboo North Pharmacy in November 2010.
Court transcripts state Mr Madex entered the pharmacy wearing a balaclava and ordered seven workers to the floor before pointing a knife at the pharmacist and demanding he hand over highly addictive medications including OxyContin.
In August 2016, after his release from prison, it’s alleged Mr Madex stole a pair of scissors from his doctor’s office in Morwell and said: “Someone’s going to get hurt today.”
He left the doctors and stole a box cutter from a Coles supermarket shelf before making demands for drugs at Priceline Pharmacy in Morwell.
According to court transcripts, he told the pharmacist “Don’t try anything, keep your hands where I can see them” before pointing the box cutter blade at his face.
The pharmacist opened the safe and Mr Madex ingested about 45 OxyContin tablets before being arrested.
He was sentenced to a minimum term of two years and four months imprisonment.
The events that led to Mr Madex’s death began on the Strzelecki Highway in Mirboo North, 155km east of Melbourne, about 7.40am on Thursday.
Police allege he threatened a male driver with a knife before taking off in a silver Audi station wagon.
The vehicle was seen driving erratically through towns including Morwell, Traralgon, Churchill and Drouin before a sergeant and three senior constables from Baw Baw Shire attempted to stop it on Princes Way about 9am.
Assistant Commissioner Glenn Weir alleged the Audi smashed into multiple parked cars and a guard rail before the driver emerged with a knife.
“The male refused demands to put the weapon down and advanced on police and two shots were fired,” Mr Weir said.
He said the carjacker was acting “agitated and aggressive” and responding police did an “amazing” job under such confronting circumstances.
“(It would be) fairly terrifying for the police who were confronted with that knife. They are very shaken,” Mr Weir said.
However Ms Madex said her family were also traumatised.
“I feel numb and my heart is breaking,” she said.
State coroner John Cain attended the site of the shooting on Thursday and said if necessary he would make recommendations to address systematic issues to prevent similar incidents.
Anyone who witnessed the incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.