How the fatal police shooting at Senior unfolded

What began as a routine police call-out turned into tragedy, with two career police officers shot – one fatally – and the accused gunman in hospital. Here’s how it happened.

It started out as a relatively routine police job but ended with an officer killed in the line of duty, two colleagues lucky to be alive and major investigations searching for why gun violence erupted.

A high-level Police Commissioner Inquiry, involving the Internal Investigation Section, and a Coronial investigation Major Crime detectives are conducting, is piecing together the tragic events at Senior, 273km southeast of Adelaide.

On Thursday night, a 131-444 call was made for police assistance, during which the caller, a father, raised concerns about his son, 26, having shot his brother’s pet dog.

The 106 coded job, indicating a domestic violence incident, was logged and three officers, including one outside his “patch”, dispatched to conduct an “Op Secure”, or a firearms audit.

Despite a gun, or multiple firearms, being flagged, Police Commissioner Grant Stevens on Friday said no danger signs, or red flags, to warn the three officers were heading into a “high-risk” incident.

A police van outside the home at Senior, where the shooting occurred. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dean Martin

Jaydn Stimson, 26, allegedly shot and killed Brevet Sergeant Jason Doig.

Police would not say what time the original call was made or why the dead senior officer, Brevet Sergeant Jason Doig, 53, was sent from another upper South-East patch almost 90 minutes away.

“This was one of those jobs that would be part of the daily routine for police officers,” Mr Stevens said.

But he added: “What can you say – police officers come to work knowing there are risks inherent in the job. But this is such a stark reminder of what those risks may result in this.”

Sergeant Doig, the well-known officer-in-charge of Lucindale Police Station, had travelled 14 minutes from Bordertown to a farm at Senior, which is located 120km from his hometown.

Riding in the marked police car were two Bordertown-based colleagues, Sergeant Michael Hutchinson, 59, and Constable Rebekah Cass, 31, who were sent to “make inquiries” at the home near the Victorian border.

A South Australian police officer has died and another has been airlifted to hospital following a shooting at Senior, near Bordertown Picture: 7NEWS

Jason Doig from Lucindale. Picture: Supplied

Sergeant Michael Hutchinson. Picture: Facebook

The trio, described as hardworking, popular and community-minded officers – the two males hailed as “career cops” – arrived at the isolated, sprawling property at 11.20pm.

But Mr Stevens, who is facing his second serious police shooting this year, said the officers were confronted by armed suspect, CFS volunteer Jaydn Stimson, 26, at his family’s property of nearly 20 years.

During a subsequent shootout, Mr Doig, a career cop who started on the force in 1989, suffered a fatal shotgun wound and Mr Hutchinson suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

Ambulance records show the first call for help occurred at 11.46pm, after which was marked as the most serious priority 1.

Over the next 20 minutes another five urgent calls were logged, including for the emergency response MedStar team amid reports an officer was shot.

The rescue helicopter was called in less than half and hour later.

Police said more patrols were dispatched after radio calls for help.

Despite Ms Cass, who escaped physical injury, and a wounded Mr Hutchinson desperately trying to save their colleague and the alleged shooter, Mr Doig died at the scene.

Mr Hutchinson was flown to Flinders Medical Centre for treatment.

Flowers left in tribute to Jason Doig at Lucindale Police Station. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dean Martin

Mr Stimson was flown to the Royal Adelaide Hospital, where he remains under police guard in a critical but stable condition.

Mr Stevens, who has spoken to both surviving officers, said it was believed Mr Stimson was the only person at the farm.

He said SA Police provided the right tools, equipment and training for officers to be as safe as possible.

He said: “But you can’t get past the reality that policing often involves dealing with violent offenders and the reasons for that violence are wide ranging – illicit drugs, mental health issues inherent violent behaviour. That is a part of policing.”

In 1990, Senior Constable David Barr, 31, died from a knife attack while Constable 1st Class Lincoln Williams, 30, was murdered in a shooting at Blair Athol in 1985. The last SA Police officer killed on duty was motorcycle officer, Senior Constable, and father of three, Bogdan “Bob” Sobczak, 52, who died instantly after colliding with a car near Tungkilla, in the Adelaide Hills, in 2002.

Officer hailed hero after horror shooting

The actions of a young police officer who desperately attempted to save the life of not just her fallen colleague – but also the man who shot him – have been lauded as heroic.

Constable Rebekah Cass, 31, was one of three officers called to a property on Senior Rd, near Bordertown, where horror unfolded on Thursday night.

Constable Cass and Sergeant Michael Hutchinson, both of the Bordertown police station, responded to what they believed was a routine incident alongside Brevet Sergeant Jason Doig.

In the space of a few chaotic moments, Sergeant Doig, Sergeant Hutchinson and accused killer Jaydn Stimson had all been shot.

Police Commissioner Grant Stevens said Constable Cass and Sergeant Hutchinson – despite his injuries – both attempted to save Sergeant Doig’s and Mr Stimson’s lives as they waited for paramedics to arrive.

Mr Stevens said the officers’ actions were nothing short of extraordinary under such traumatic circumstances.

“For those two officers to act the way they did in such difficult circumstances speaks volumes for their courage and their commitment to their duty and to their colleagues,” Mr Stevens said.

“An injured police officer stepping in to provide potentially life saving assistance to a colleague – and also the person who is suspected of having committed the offence – in such difficult circumstances is the reason you can only be proud of the South Australian police.”

SA Police colleagues hailed Constable Cass as a hero for keeping the harrowing scene under control until paramedics and officers from surrounding stations arrived.

Constable Cass only joined the force in 2018, while Sergeant Hutchinson – known best to locals as “Sarge” – has been serving the community for decades.

“I feel so much for Rebekah,” one SA Police officer said.

“Having to contend with that on your own late at night, with your colleagues injured – one of them really badly – would have been horrific. They would have recalled other Bordertown staff, Keith and other surrounding areas – and that would have taken ­f--king ages. Scary stuff.”

Premier Peter Malinauskas said the two officers deserved the state’s “thanks and high praise” for the bravery they demonstrated.

“I understand that even the alleged shooter was treated and assisted by police after the incident, which I think speaks to the extraordinary professionalism of South Australian police,” he said.

Tatiana District Council Mayor Liz Goossens commended the officers, saying the entire community was grieving in the wake of the tragedy.

“Our thoughts are with Sergeant Michael Hutchinson and Constable Rebekah Cass, who showed tremendous courage last night,” Ms Goossens said.

“We grieve with you and wish you all the best in your ­recovery.”

Originally published as How the fatal police shooting at Senior unfolded