Shepparton residents won’t shed tears for Stanley Turvey after Ardmona police shooting
Shepparton residents say their town is a better and safer place after fugitive Stanley Turvey was shot and killed in a standoff with police.
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Shepparton residents who lived in fear when fugitive Stanley Turvey mixed with locals say the town will “absolutely” feel safer without his presence.
Turvey, 33, was shot and killed by specialist police at Ardmona, near Shepparton on Wednesday during a tense standoff with police.
It followed a three-day crime spree in which he held two people hostage, stole a Toyota HiLux and fired up to two shots in the air in front of police.
He also forced a Youanmite stranger to drive him across the border to Finley, NSW.
Many say they will feel much safer knowing Turvey, who lived in the Shepparton area, is no longer a threat.
“I’m just glad he’s gone without taking an innocent life away,” one local said.
“Absolutely it’ll be safer.”
Another said Turvey “harmed others, (it was) his decision. Justice has been served.”
Matt Morris said he had little empathy for Turvey or his family after what he put innocent people through during his rampage.
“I honestly don’t care what or how the family members feel, what he did deserves no sympathy,” he posted online.
“If I was a family member I wouldn’t want sympathy, I would be more concerned about the victims, a long list of victims he has terrorised.”
Daniel Wayenberg added: “He won’t be bothering anyone any more.”
It comes as more disturbing videos of Turvey were published in the wake of his death, as his friends took to social media to honour their fallen mate.
In one video posted as part of a tribute, two men are filmed in a vehicle wearing balaclavas.
One of the men holds a shotgun to the camera as the other man holds a huge knife, showing off their possessions.
Another video showed Turvey’s head and face smeared with blood, holding his right fist up to the camera with a steely look on his face.
Another clip shows a tattooed man, believed to be Turvey, driving a luxury car with the camera zooming in on the speedometer, which reads 210km/h.
Amid Turvey’s wild social media activity, he would proudly boast about putting “family first” with photos of what is believed to be his three children online.
Across his several Facebook accounts, Turvey expressed his love and commitment for the trio, who now face life without their father.
“I love you so much my babies,” he once posted.
“Dad is in your heart.
“Now never forget how much I appreciate you and love you so much my darling babies. Missing you all, god bless you all, daddy loves you so much.”
In another post, he pledged to get his life back on track, believed to have been posted after a stint in Barwon Prison.
“Happy days, back out to work hard,” he said.
“Family is everything to me and loyal mates are the only people around me.
“I don’t have a second for the people who are not trying to make something of their life, so I am trying to say that most people are not worthy of my presence.
“I am going to have a chance to be good for my kids’ life.
“Family first.”
It comes as Homicide Squad detectives continue to investigate the fatal shooting on Wednesday, which ended a crime-filled three days, beginning on Monday when officers conducting a firearms prohibition order check were confronted by Turvey with a firearm, who shot into the air and fled.
While in pursuit of the 33-year-old, two officers were injured after their vehicle rolled on Creighton Rd in Katandra West. They were admitted to hospital with minor injuries.
A short time later, Turvey went to a stranger’s house in the nearby Youanmite area, and forced a man to drive him to Finley in NSW.
By Tuesday, Turvey had made his way to Yarrawonga in Victoria’s northeast, where he assaulted a woman while armed with a firearm before stealing a white HiLux utility.
Police recovered that vehicle in Fraser St, Tatura later that day.
On Wednesday, local police and officers from Melbourne tracked him to Turnbull Rd in Ardmona, near Shepparton, and shot him dead during the standoff.
The Professional Standards Command is overseeing the investigation, as is standard procedure.
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