Man shot dead, hacks off sister’s arm
A man shot dead by police in Victoria’s east was strangling his sister and partially severed her arm with a sword before he was fatally shot.
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 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 understand the man and 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.
“As a result of the confrontation, a police officer has discharged their firearm,” the police statement read.
Paramedics treated the man at the scene, but he could not be revived.
They say the man’s mother made the call to police and spoke to officers outside the house before they went inside.
He 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 mother was also taken to hospital in a “very distressed state”.
Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
