Police shoot ‘quiet’ man
CLAIMS HE RAN AT OFFICERS WITH SHOVEL
A MAN has been shot by police at Waurn Ponds after allegedly charging at officers while armed with a shovel.
Neighbours reported hearing a female voice yelling “get back, get back” before a gunshot was fired just after midnight on Wednesday.
Police were called to the Willesden Drive property after receiving a noise complaint. Officers allege a 46-year-old man confronted officers before charging at them with a shovel.
Victoria Police spokeswoman Nikki Ladgrove said an officer shot the man in the lower body.
He was taken to hospital in a stable condition.
Shocked neighbours said the man – named as Andrew Wilczewski — built his home about 15 years ago and had lived there ever since.
He is understood to be the owner of Breakwater store Andy G Electronics where he employs a number of staff.
David Dunn said he had lived opposite Mr Wilczewski for 10 years and had never seen police at the property before.
He said Mr Wilczewski lived alone and sometimes played loud music that he had mixed.
The man previously DJed under the name Andy G.
“He is a nice, quiet guy,” Mr Dunn said.
“I am shocked at what happened.”
Jennifer Hume, who has lived in the area for six months, said she was woken by police knocking on the man’s door around midnight.
Ms Hume said she heard a female police officer tell the man to step away before ordering him to put down a shovel.
“She said ‘get back, get back’ and then bang,” Ms Hume said.
The woman said she heard police make a radio call to say shots had been fired before a number of marked and unmarked vehicles arrived on the scene. Ms Hume said the man made no noise after being shot and was taken away from the property in a wheelchair.
She said police scoured the scene for evidence throughout the night and immediately taped off the property.
Police were still at the scene of the shooting by midmorning Thursday and forensic and firearms officers could be seen examining the front and back yards. Officers took multiple bags of evidence from the home, including one in the shape of a shovel.
Mr Wilczewski was taken to hospital in a stable condition.
The incident comes after a former leading senior constable was shot by police at Werribee on Monday following a standoff.
The man was shot twice in the stomach after allegedly charging at an officer while armed with a knife.
Detectives from the Armed Crime Squad are continuing to probe the Waurn Ponds shooting.
The investigation will be overseen by Professional Standards Command.