Chief Minister says cops had to make tough decisions in tough circumstances

Senior police have given details of a run in Kumanjayi Walker had with police in Yuendumu last week, while Chief Minister Michael Gunner has said his family were not told of his death because of “safety concerns”.

The community of Yuendumu remained calm overnight as police continue to investigate the shooting death of Kumanjayi Walker.

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THE community of Yuendumu remained calm overnight as police continue to investigate the shooting death of a young Aboriginal man.

Police held a community meeting yesterday to discuss the death of Kumanjayi Walker.

Mr Walker died around 9pm on Saturday, almost two hours after he was shot.

The ABC reported the Royal Flying Doctor Service were told of the shooting at 7.45pm, and were waiting for a patient report before flying out there but were told to stand down at 9pm because Mr Walker had died.

Acting NT Police Commissioner Michael Murphy and Assistant Commissioner Travis Wurst met with the community yesterday, parts of the meeting was broadcast on ABC radio this morning.

The two police officers, who have both been stationed in the community during their careers, explained during the town meeting that Mr Walker had had a run in with police prior to his death.

Mr Wurst said that on Wednesday Mr Walker was allegedly armed but ran away and did not use the weapon and then on Saturday police went to arrest him.

“When police were talking to him there was a fight and in that fight he stabbed one policeman, and then the police did use a gun and they did shoot, there was three shots,” he said.

He said the police officers did have body worn cameras on them and the incident was recorded.

Chief Minister Michael Gunner, who spoke on ABC radio, is yet to visit the community.

He said he would be guided by the people on the ground as to when the community and Mr Walker’s family would like to meet him.

Mr Gunner said grief counsellors would be sent to Yuendumu today.

He said one of the factors in the decision not to tell the family immediately of Mr Walker’s death had been due to safety concerns.

“They had to make the decisions the best they could and the circumstances about when they informed the family,” Mr Gunner said.

“They were on the ground they had to make those decisions. Yesterday at the conference police didn’t outline all the reasons why they had that delay but they said one of the considerations was essentially safety within the community.”