Police have shot dead a man allegedly approaching front doors of homes in Sydney’s lower north shore wielding two “chef-style” knives, after reports he was threatening residents.
Officers were called to Alexander Avenue in North Willoughby, behind a Harris Farm supermarket and suburban shopping strip, just before 11.30am on Thursday, after reports of a man threatening people.
“The two responding officers were allegedly confronted by a man, who was armed with two knives, before a constable discharged their firearm,” a police statement said.
The 41-year-old man died at the scene, police said, adding there were no other injuries.
The state crime command’s homicide squad has launched a critical investigation into the incident to “investigate all circumstances surrounding the man’s death, including the discharge of a police firearm”.
Witnesses claimed the man was not wearing a shirt and was knocking on residents’ doors making threats, the Daily Telegraph reported.
Assistant commissioner Leanne McCusker said that while the officers’ decision to use a gun instead of a Taser would form part of the investigation, the speed at which the man approached police appeared to have informed their decision.
“Certainly Taser was a tactical option available,” McCusker said. “He ran at police and, as I said, the two large knives that he had on him at the time were what I would be describing as large, chef-style knives.”
She said the man approached front doors of properties but did not enter any homes, as he exhibited “erratic behaviour, aggressiveness and chasing after people down the street”.
McCusker said she had not yet seen bodycam footage of the incident – she planned to as the investigation progressed.
The man was shot four times, she said. The responding officers were receiving welfare support. “I’ve spoken with the two officers, naturally they are shaken,” McCusker said.
The 41-year-old lived locally and was known to police, but McCusker said: “I would probably describe that as quite minimal.”
She said it was not clear what had triggered his behaviour, but that neighbours had raised “some concerns” regarding mental health.
“Police were called by members of the community, by multiple calls, with the concern of the erratic behaviour and aggressiveness, and police were there, as we are, to protect the community.”
