Police officer takes immediate leave after shooting Aboriginal woman dead in Western Australia

The shooting death of a 29-year-old mother has created “a sea of grief” in Western Australia as her loved ones demand answers from police.

A police officer who shot an Aboriginal woman dead in Western Australia has taken immediate leave as her family demand to know why a Taser wasn’t deployed instead.

Joyce Clarke was reportedly armed with a knife when a constable shot her about 6.15pm on Tuesday on a street in Karloo, Geraldton, in the state’s Mid West region.

Her family had called police to help control what has been described as “erratic” behaviour.

The 29-year-old was taken to Geraldton Regional Hospital where she later died.

Ms Clarke was a mother-of-one and leaves behind a seven-year-old son who lives with a relative.

Ms Clarke is remembered by her family as a loving and caring woman. Picture: Facebook

Her foster mother, Anne Jones, told Nine News Ms Clarke was “very caring (and) loving”.

“She did anything and everything for old people and young,” she said yesterday.

Regional WA Commander Alan Morton said the officer involved was traumatised and had taken immediate leave.

“No police officer goes to work with the expectation that they will have to use lethal force in the execution of their duty,” he told reporters.

“Unfortunately … that was not the case.”

Commander Morton offered his condolences to Ms Clarke’s family and said “one of the main areas of investigation” would centre on why a Taser was not used.

“Everyone wants quick answers but it’s just unfair for me to draw early conclusions,” he said.

It’s understood Ms Clarke had only just been released from prison, as recently as Saturday.

The 29-year-old woman leaves behind a son, aged seven. Picture: Facebook

One witness to the police shooting told reporters she was frightened during the incident.

“I come running out looking, like, ‘What the hell?’,” she said.

“I had my daughter on me and I went out there and I heard ‘She’s been shot, ring the ambulance’, so I just grabbed her and ran back inside.

“I was shocked. I was terrified. It was scary.”

National Suicide Prevention and Trauma Recovery Project co-ordinator Gerry Georgatos told AAP the organisation was supporting the family, including Ms Jones who lives in nearby Mullewa.

“It’s as harrowing as it gets,” Mr Georgatos said. “The family is hurting and there’s a lot of confusion about what has occurred. There’s a sea of grief at the moment from Mullewa to Geraldton.”

He said the family wanted to know why a Taser was not used on Ms Clarke instead of a gun.

Ms Clarke was shot and died in hospital.

She had recently been released from prison. Picture: Facebook

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Up to 100 people protested outside the local police station yesterday, with some holding signs including one that read: “What is a Taser for? RIP Joyce.”

The woman holding that sign said: “If they pepper-sprayed her, they could have grabbed her. If they Tasered her, they could have grabbed her.

“No, they’ve got to … pull their guns out.”

She said they were experiencing the “worst scenario” of not having any answers for the death.

Officers lowered the Aboriginal flag to half-mast and spoke with the peaceful but upset crowd.

“If she had a knife, Taser her. Don’t shoot her,” one protester said.

Another shouted: “Where’s the justice in shooting an innocent, poor mother?”

Among the group was Carol Roe, the grandmother of 22-year-old Aboriginal woman Ms Dhu who died in a Pilbara hospital in 2014 two days after being locked up at the local police station for unpaid fines.

Major Crime officers have travelled to Geraldton to investigate.

The Police Internal Affairs Unit will conduct a separate inquiry, which is standard protocol.

The Corruption and Crime Commission and WA Coroner will also oversee the case.

WA Police Union president Harry Arnott said the union was standing by its members involved in the “tragic incident” and would assist them through the internal investigation process.

“Our thoughts go out to the police officers involved and their families in this terrible circumstance,” he said.

— with AAP

Karloo in Geraldton, in the Mid West region of Western Australia. Picture: Google Maps