What led to armed gunman Stanley Turvey’s fatal confrontation with police

Details have emerged of the initial confrontation that ignited three days of drama that led to fugitive Stanley Turvey being killed by police.

Details have emerged of the initial confrontation that ignited three days of drama that led to the death of fugitive Stanley Turvey.

Turvey, who was known for his distinctive facial tattoos, had been on a wild-cross border crime spree since Monday before his dramatic end at Ardmona, near Shepparton in Victoria’s north, on Wednesday.

The Herald Sun has been told police had gone to the fugitive’s home on Monday to carry out a firearms prohibition order compliance check.

As Turvey was on an FPO, it was illegal for him to have a firearm.

When officers arrived he produced a shotgun and fired into the air, reportedly telling officers he did not want to go back to prison.

Police spent three days hunting for Stan Turvey before shooting him dead in a confrontation near Shepparton.

Police block off a road at Ardmona where fugitive Stan Turvey was shot dead. Picture: David Crosling

A member of the public was at the property where police fatally shot Turvey on Wednesday.

Victoria Police Eastern region acting assistant commissioner Karen Nyholm on Wednesday afternoon said intelligence led police to a property on Turnbull Rd where they found Turvey armed with a firearm.

He had been on the run for three days after breaching a firearms prohibition order in what Ms Nyholm described as the biggest interstate manhunt since the Stocco father and son duo lead police on a fatal two-week manhunt in 2015.

Police at the scene where Turvey was shot dead. Picture: David Crosling

Police say the hunt for Turvey was the biggest interstate manhunt since 2015. Picture: David Crosling

Ms Nyholm could not confirm whether the second person who was at the property when SOG officers arrived was a resident or an accomplice of Turvey.

She could not say whether that person witnessed the shooting.

Ms Nyholm said the two members of the public taken hostage by Turvey in recent days were “traumatised” by their ordeals.

“Our focus will be on supporting those victims,” she said.

Ms Nyholm said she could not provide exact details about exactly what unfolded during the shooting because that was now the subject of a coronal investigation.

But whether Turvey actually opened fire on the SOG officers will be central to the probe into his death.

“Our Special Operations Group have attended there and whilst approaching the residence have been involved in a matter with Stanley Turvey and at that time, he’s produced a firearm,” she said.

“Police have taken action that has required to shoot Stanley Turvey and unfortunately he is now deceased.

“Police were presented with a threat and as a result of that have taken some action.”

Ms Nyholm said members of the public were no doubt “traumatised” as a result of being caught up in Turvey’s crime spree over the past three days.

“I’d like to acknowledge the impact on those communities, both the individual victims that were involved, the witnesses that witnessed what took place and the broader community.”

Ms Nyholm said the fatal shooting was not the preferred ending to Turvey’s days on the run and that it was no doubt a difficult time for his family.

“This is not the outcome we would have wanted today,” she said.

“With the risk of the conduct and behaviour of this type or serious offending, it was important that we took him into safe custody as soon as we could.

“We wanted to take him into safe custody, but it is fair to say we need to do what it is to protect the public and protect ourselves in that situation.

“Any family members that loses someone in these circumstances would be traumatised.

“There will be a lot of trauma that they will have to work through … they’ve lost a loved one.”

It is not known how Turvey travelled to Ardmona after police discovered the stolen ute in Yarrawonga.

Police will also investigate whether Turvey asked residents in surrounding areas to harbour him as he continued to evade capture.

Turvey was on an FPO because of a history of gun offending.

FPOs allow police to carry out searches on recipients without a warrant and there are maximum penalties of up to 10 years in jail for breaches.

In 2017, police warned the public not to approach Turvey as they sought him over firearms offending.

The 33-year-old claimed to be a member of the Finks but it is believed that is not the case.