According to reports, the man who was fatally shot by Sydney police was acting “erratically,” “aggressively,” and “chasing people down the street.”
As police responded to a complaint in North Willoughby this morning at 11.30am, residents shut their doors.
Steven Pampalian, who was allegedly carrying two chef-style knives, confronted the officers.
Pampalian was shot by a constable and died there, according to a statement from NSW Police.
Pampalian, according to Assistant Commissioner Leanne McCusker, was contacting a number of residences and neighbours.
As the police arrived, the man confronted them, according to McCusker.
He did have two big knives on him at the time.
“He charged the police, and one of them shot him,” said the officer.
He is well known to the police, but I would probably characterise it as very little, and any additional information on this person will be included in the crucial inquiry.
According to McCusker, it’s unknown what set off the man’s behaviour or whether the incident is connected to the man’s mental health.
The welfare of the two cops is being supported.
Naturally, they are shaken, but welfare support has been set up with the intention that we take care of them, according to McCusker.
There have been no further recorded injuries.
The incident’s circumstances are being looked into by police, and the Professional Standards Command will examine the probe.
Although there haven’t been any additional injuries reported, there are many police officers on the scene.
A Taser, according to McCusker, was “a tactical option available” but was not deployed in the event.
The critical incident team will conduct an examination into the tactical choice that was made, she said.
McCusker stated that while she hasn’t watched the bodycam tape, she intends to.
One woman stated that she was “shocked” and “sad” to learn of the death.
She claimed, “We just heard three loud gunshots followed by quite loud shouting and an upset man.”
“Well, I didn’t know they were gunshots; they were just loud bangs, and all I could think was, ‘Was that gunshots?'”
Afterward, I had heard that this street had been closed, and we had heard helicopters.Simply keeping the doors locked, we remained inside.
As a precaution, the nearby Willoughby Public School was closed throughout the event.
The Homicide Squad will look into the shooting.
The coroner will receive a report.
