Accused cop killer Jaydn Stimson’s farming upbringing revealed

He was a CFS volunteer and farmhouse family boy. Now, Jaydn Stimson is accused of killing a police officer and injuring another — and likely to spend his birthday in custody.

One of five children in a prolific South-East farming family, Jaydn Stimson is just 10 days shy of his 27th birthday — a milestone he now looks set to celebrate in police custody.

The 26-year-old is accused of killing beloved Lucindale community police officer Brevet Sergeant Jason Doig and injuring veteran Sergeant Michael Hutchinson in a horror shootout at his family’s Senior Rd property on Thursday night.

Mr Stimson’s “mumma bear” Lynette, the matriarch of the family, is a mainstay of nearby Bordertown, which has a population of just 3000 people.

Jaydn Stimson, 26, has been identified as the alleged shooter in a fatal incident near Bordertown. Picture: Facebook

Mr Stimson’s family is well-known in the Bordertown community. Picture: Facebook

Lynette’s name is almost as well-known in the tight-knit community as that of Sgt Hutchinson, who has been the town’s police officer for as long as its young residents can remember.

Less than 24 hours before the shooting, Lynette shared a video of Mr Stimson shearing sheep on the family farm alongside his brother Marley.

The 26-year-old accused shooter volunteered for the CFS at a young age, but had not been active in the service for the past five years.

Photos from Mr Stimson’s childhood show a typical farmhouse upbringing, often seen posing with his mother and four siblings.

In one image shared by Lynette on social media, Mr Stimson is seen smoking a large cigar. In another, he is pictured posing alongside his siblings with a chainsaw.

Mr Stimson was a regular at the Bordertown Hotel — sometimes spotted playing pool with his brother.

Jaydn Stimson on his family’s property, near Bordertown. Picture: Facebook

Lucindale police officer Brevet Sergeant Jason Doig was killed in the shootout. Picture: Supplied

Tatiana Council Mayor Liz Goossens said the Stimson family was a big part of the Bordertown community.

“It’s a very tough time for them as well, there’s a lot for them to process and work through,” she said.

“They will absolutely have support within the community.”

In a statement on Friday, Mr Stimson’s family extended their condolences to the families of Sgt Doig and Sgt Hutchinson.

“As a family, our hearts are broken by the incidents that occurred overnight,” they said.

“For now, our thoughts remain with Sergeant Hutchinson and his family while he recovers from his injuries.

“Our thoughts are also with the South-East community who will all be affected by this tragedy. At this time, our family requests privacy while we process the events that have taken place.”

Locals say they will rally around the Stimson family in the wake of the tragedy. Picture: Facebook

A friend of Sgt Hutchinson — known best to the Bordertown community as ‘Sarge’ — said he hoped the Stimson family would be supported in the wake of the fatal shooting.

“You have to feel sorry for Jaydn’s parents because they would just be devastated,” he said.

“Everyone thinks of the police, as they should, but they should also think of his family as well.”

Police Commissioner Grant Stevens said it was believed Mr Stimson was the only person at the Senior Rd property at the time of the fatal shooting.

The 26-year-old remains under police guard in hospital after suffering life-threatening injuries in the incident.

Comm Stevens said the exact circumstances that led to the fatal incident unfolding would be examined by Major Crime investigators, with forensic detectives at the scene on Thursday morning.

A Commissioner’s Inquiry will be undertaken into the shooting.

Premier Peter Malinauskas said the incident served as a “very clear reminder” of the dangers police officers face, particularly just months after two officers were killed in Queensland and another two officers injured at Crystal Brook.

“One can’t begin to imagine what was going on in the life of the alleged shooter to provoke them to conduct this act,” he said.

“But the fact that we’ve seen more than one incident now around the country does beg the question about what is going on.”

Emergency Services Minister Joe Szakacs said the three officers would have believed they were responding to a “relatively routine policing matter” and likely never predicted its devastating outcome.

“There are few professions that have the same inherent risks as policing every single day,” Mr Szakacs said.

“Police simply do not know in any circumstances what is behind that door — what type of violence is behind that door.”

Originally published as Accused cop killer Jaydn Stimson’s farming upbringing revealed