A man has been shot dead in a hospital car park after aiming a gun at police.
Police arrived at Manning Hospital in Taree on the NSW mid-north coast just before 1pm on Thursday after reports a man had fired shots into the air at a home several kilometres away.
Police found the man, believed to be in his 30s, in the hospital car park.
During negotiations, the man pointed a gun at the officers who then shot at him.
He was given first aid and taken inside the hospital but died a short time later.
A critical incident has been declared and the incident will be independently reviewed.
The NSW Homicide Squad will also investigate.