Man found strangling unconscious sister before being shot dead by police at house on Warburton Hwy in Yarra Ranges

A man was found strangling his sister as she lay unconscious with a severed arm before he was shot dead by police inside a house at Yarra Junction. | Warning: Graphic details.

A man allegedly severed his sister’s arm with a samurai sword and was strangling her as she lay unconscious before police officers shot him dead inside a house in the Yarra Ranges.

The siblings’ mother called police to a house on the Warburton Hwy at Yarra Junction about 5.30pm on Wednesday after a fight broke out at the property.

Eastern Region Assistant Commissioner Russell Barrett, who attended the “dynamic” and “traumatic” scene late on Wednesday, said two officers arrived to find the 45-year-old man strangling his unconscious sister in a bedroom.

Assistant Commissioner Barrett said they tried to subdue the man by tasering him three times, but were forced to shoot him when he would not let go of his 48-year-old sister, whose arm had been severed above her elbow.

Paramedics tried to revive the man, but he died at the scene.

Forensic Police at the Yarra Junction house on Thursday. Picture: David Geraghty

The house at the scene of a shooting. Picture: David Geraghty

The woman remained in a coma with life-threatening injuries on Thursday morning.

Assistant Commissioner Barrett said the woman’s arm had been partially severed before police arrived.

Investigators found a sword at the house and will determine whether it was the weapon the man used to attack his sister.

Assistant Commissioner Barrett said the siblings’ mother warned them about the fight unfolding inside the house before they stepped inside.

He said he stood by the action taken by the senior Constable and leading senior Constable to shoot the man, saying the woman could have been killed if they hadn’t.

The officers involved were distressed after the incident, describing their actions as “brave” and “entirely appropriate”, he said.

“It’s tragic — it’s a graphic scene,” he said.

“This is every police officer’s nightmare.

“No police officer wants to take these actions.

“They’ve acted entirely appropriately and followed their training.

“Our hearts go out to the family.”

Assistant Commissioner Barrett said the man had a history of mental health issues and was known to police because of his condition.

Police were called to the property about 5.30pm Wednesday. Picture: David Geraghty

How many people were inside the family home when the fatal fight broke out and how many shots the officers fired will be central to the investigation, which will be overseen by homicide detectives and the force’s Professional Standards Command – standard practice for police shootings.

Forensic specialists spent Thursday morning combing the property for evidence.

Assistant Commissioner Barrett said the ordeal unfolded over the course of about four minutes, describing footage from the officers’ body worn cameras as extremely graphic.

The pair’s mother was taken to hospital for assessment but was not injured during the fight.

It remained unclear whether the man was under the influence of drugs when police arrived.

Police have detailed the horrific scene they came across before the shooting. Picture: David Geraghty

Forest Fire Management Victoria contractor Ian Polkinghorne was staying at a neighbouring bed and breakfast when the incident took place on Wednesday afternoon.

“The only thing I really heard was a dog going off (and) losing its nut at one stage,” he told the Herald Sun on Thursday morning.

“I thought it was a bit strange, a bit of a different bark than normal.

“I heard sirens, but thought it might have been a car crash, then walked outside to take the bins out and saw cop cars, ambulances and the helicopter, which flew over and rattled the shit out of the joint.”

He added while he didn’t hear any shots, it wasn’t uncommon to hear guns being fired around Yarra Junction.

“Every now and again you hear deer hunters fire a gun and you can hear them even with the TV on ... but they use much bigger guns than the police.”

Mr Polkinghorne said he had been staying at the accommodation located on Warburton Hwy for work for two years and had seen police at the property where the incident took place multiple times.

“I believe there have definitely been problems there before,” he said.

“Every now and again you see the cops there and you just know something weird is going on.”

The retired firefighter said the incident didn’t worry him personally but his thoughts were with the victim and officers involved.

Police at the scene on Wednesday night. Picture: 10 News

Long-time local Brian, who owns 3 Kings Bed & Breakfast, told the Herald Sun his family had lived a few doors down from the Warburton Hwy property for 25 years and had noticed some unusual behaviour from the people living there.

“I knew (the man) had issues because there had been an episode prior,” he said.

“We would see him walking up and down the driveway and say g’day but he was a quiet, more solemn type of person.

“You just knew that all was not well and the fact that the police had attended the home previously, you knew that there were issues.”

Brian said the news shocked the tight-knit community in Yarra Junction.

“This stuff happens all the time, every day, everywhere, no doubt, but when it happens in a small town of 1600 people you tend to be shocked and surprised by it,” he said.

“We have never felt personally threatened or concerned for our own safety at any stage, just more sad than anything else.”

Another 49-year-old man was also at the home during the fatal shooting, but was uninjured during the ordeal.

Anyone who witnessed the incident or with further information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.