Knife-wielding man shot dead by police in Melbourne - ABC Local

Updated August 26, 2013 07:58:29

Police are defending the actions of an officer involved in a fatal police shooting in Melbourne overnight.

An experienced highway patrol officer, who was working alone, shot dead a man after pulling over a car at Windsor about 10:40pm (AEST).

Police believed the car had stolen number plates.

Police say the driver, a man in his 40s, had allegedly pulled out a knife before he was shot.

Police are still searching for a woman who was in the car at the time of the shooting.

Assistant Commissioner Luke Cornelius says the officer had to make a quick decision.

"Where an officer chooses to take another person's life, that is a choice which is invariably made and must be made in defence of one's own life or in defence of another person who is facing an imminent threat of serious injury or loss of life," he said.

"No officer expects to come to work having to make that terrible decision.

"I am sure everyone would appreciate that any member who is in that position of course suffers terribly as a result of having to make that decision."

Local resident Helen Jones heard the incident when she was in her kitchen.

"I heard bang. Bang bang. That's it. Three shots," she said.

"I first thought it was my son playing his (computer) games. And I thought it was too far away."

The Homicide Squad, Police Professional Standards Command and the Coroner are investigating and Assistant Commissioner Cornelius says the search for the woman is continuing.

"We're very keen to for that lady to come forward, because obviously we believe that she would be able to assist us with our enquiries."

Topics: police, law-crime-and-justice, melbourne-3000, windsor-3181

First posted August 26, 2013 05:58:57