Police says Kumanjayi Walker stabbed a police officer before he was shot

The family of Kumanjayi Walker have released a photo of his bloody mattress after he was shot and killed by police. While a Yuendumu local has given an eye witness account of Kumanjayi Walker’s final moments which conflicts with the NT Police account which says he stabbed a police officer. WARNING: Graphic image

Kumanjayi Walker was shot by police in Yuendumu on Saturday night. Pictures: Facebook

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A Yuendumu local has given an eye witness account of Kumanjayi Walker’s final moments which conflicts with the NT Police account which says he stabbed a police officer.*

A source, who is close to police, said there was ‘face-to-face combat’ between 19-year-old Kumanjayi Walker and police officers in his house.

Acting Deputy Commissioner Michael White told media in Darwin two police officers went to a home in the community 300km from Alice Springs to arrest Kumanjayi Walker for a breach of parole.

He said Kumanjayi Walker “lunged” at an officer and was shot. 

In a statement on Sunday afternoon NT Police said a fight broke out between Kumanjayi Walker and one of the officers, with Kumanjayi Walker stabbing one of the officers in the shoulder.

They said the officer then shot Kumanjayi Walker.

A blurred picture of a blood stained mattress where Kumanjayi Walker was shot, along with a police bullet casing. The picture was provided by the family of Kumanjayi Walker.

Police said they gave him first aid at Yuendumu Police Station but he died a short time later.

Mr White would not say what weapon he was armed with but did confirm police officer had an injured shoulder from the “tragic and serious incident”. The police statement also did not disclose what the weapon was.

Locals described to The Australian seeing police cars speeding through the community shortly after some residents had been to a funeral.

“They came with two police cars; one parked on the other side of the house,” Elizabeth Snape, who said she witnessed the incident, told The Australian.

“They questioned me, asked me where he was. They found him there; they put him in against the front door, but the wall part.

“He tried to fight off their restraints, and they hit him. He was hit and thrown onto the bed, and that’s when the three gunshots went off.”

She told the paper she saw officers “drag” the man out after he had been shot.

Police have said there were only two shots fired.

Alice Springs residents held a protest outside the town's police station on Sunday after the fatal shooting Mr Walker in Yuendumu. Picture: Emma Murray

The police insider said Kumanjayi Walker stabbed the officer in the shoulder close to an artery and there were fears he would bleed to death.

Police said in their statement coronial and critical incident investigations had started and officers from the Major Crime Section and Professional Standards Command travelled to Alice Springs this morning.

They said additional police and support services were sent to the community to maintain calm and work with residents.

* The family of Kumanjayi Walker have given NT News and the Centralian Advocate permission to use his name and his image.