Man dies in police shooting
by Yvette Brand
Four Baw Baw police officers involved in a shooting at Drouin on Thursday morning were “extremely shaken,” according to Victoria Police assistant commissioner Glenn Weir.
A sergeant and three senior constables from the Baw Baw family violence unit and Neerim South station were at the scene when a man known to police was shot.
“They have taken immediate action after a really serious criminal offence. They have taken action as per their training to try and apprehend an offender for a series of violent offences,” he said.
The drama unfolded just before 9am at the western end of Princes Way, near the Drouin golf course.
The road was closed from 9am until 7.30pm on Thursday night while investigators examined the scene.
A/C Weir said the drama began at Mirboo North at about 7.40am when a man, armed with a knife, took a car by force.
Police were told a man armed with a knife made threats to a man before stealing his silver Audi station wagon.
A/C Weir said the driver of the vehicle at Mirboo North was not physically injured during the incident but it had been a terrifying experience.
Police said the silver Audi was then seen driving through the Morwell, Traralgon and Churchill areas before the incident unfolded in Drouin.
Police responded to reports of a vehicle driving erratically in the area and attempted to stop the car before it was involved in a collision.
The pursuit ended when the vehicle crashed into a guard rail in Princes Way, Drouin.
A/C Weir said the man exited the vehicle, armed with a knife and refused to put down the weapon on police demands.
He said the man approached police and a male officer fired two shots.
A/C Weir confirmed the deceased, a 31year-old Morwell man, was known to police.
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Ambulance Victoria said paramedics assessed the man for upper body injuries and attempted to treat the man at the scene. Air ambulance attended but the man died at the scene.
A Drouin man, who was out walking at the time, saw the drama unfold.
Mick Henry said police cars and sirens caught his attention as he watched the scene unfold about 200 metres away in Princes Way.
Mr Henry said he saw a silver vehicle collide into another vehicle as it drove erratically in an easterly direction.
He said a man jumped from the vehicle, there was shouting and he saw the man run towards police and appeared to be carrying something.
“I could tell the way he was running he had something in his hand.
Mr Henry said one police officer was running from the man when a second police officer fired his gun.
“I heard two shots and he fell to the ground. It all happened in the space of about 10 seconds.
“It didn’t bother me too much at all but it certainly interrupted my walk. There was no time to react,” he said.
Police said the investigation was in its infancy and are keen to speak to anyone who saw the vehicle on Gippsland roads or anyone who witnessed the incident.
Homicide Squad detectives will investigate the circumstances of the incident. The investigation also will be oversighted by Professional Standards Command, as per standard protocol when a police firearm is discharged.
Anyone with information that may assist investigations should contact CrimeStoppers 1800 333000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au