Probe after man fatally shot by police at Yarra Junction
Police say the man was seen assaulting a woman before being fatally shot by an officer at a property in Victoria.
A man has been shot dead by police in Victoria’s east after strangling his sister and partially severing her arm with a samurai sword.
Officers were called to a home on Warburton Highway at Yarra Junction – about 68km east of Melbourne – about 5.30pm on Wednesday after reports a man was assaulting a woman.
Assistant Commissioner Russell Barrett told reporters that officers walked in to find the man “strangling the female” who had a “partially severed” arm from a samurai sword attack.
“We have located a sword,” he said.
A statement from Victoria Police says two officers went to the scene and saw a woman being assaulted by the man.
Police allege the man ignored requests to stop and discharged tasers in an attempt to subdue him.
The man did not stop and an officer discharged his firearm.
Paramedics treated the man at the scene, but he could not be revived.
Police have since confirmed the 45-year-old man and 48-year-old woman are brother and sister.
“There was a fight going on between a brother and sister and there was the level of violence involved,” Mr Barrett said.
Mr Barrett said the man was known to police through a medical condition.
They say the man’s mother made the call to police and spoke to officers outside the house before they went inside.
Mr Barrett described the incident as “tragic”.
“It’s a graphic scene,” he said. “It’s every police officer’s nightmare.
“These officers have to come into work doing what they do every day.”
Mr Barrett added that it was a “relatively small community” and the incident affected the officers attending the scene.
“Both police officers are distressed,” he said.
“They understand the realities of their job, they understand they go to houses regularly where violence is taking place, but they want to resolve things in a non-confrontational way.”
He said he had reviewed the officers’ body cameras and believed they “acted entirely appropriately and followed their training”.
The woman was flown to hospital with life-threatening injuries.
Their 79-year-old mother was also taken to hospital in a “very distressed state”.
A 49-year-old Yarra Junction man was also at the house at the time of the incident and was not injured.
Yarra Ranges Mayor Jim Child said the small town had been rocked by the incident.
“It’s a very upsetting set of circumstances - it’s just heart-breaking news for the community,” Mr Child told news.com.au on Thursday afternoon.
“I’m really sympathetic to the emergency services that did attend. There’s still a police presence there.
“I’ve been talking to members of the community and they’re overwhelmed.
“To me this is a family violence situation, and this is why the community is reeling. Here’s a family unit that has broken down, and how long has this been going on for? We don’t know.”
Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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