Police shoot man after alleged rifle confrontation in rural NSW
A man was fatally shot by New South Wales police after officers responding to a crashed car said he aimed a loaded rifle at them near Rugby, north of Yass. A homicide critical-incident investigation and an independent professional-standards review will examine the circumstances.
A man has died after New South Wales police shot him while responding to a car crash near Rugby, about 84 kilometres north of Yass. Police were called to Corringle Lane near Rugby Road at about 2.50pm on Sunday after a Chrysler station wagon struck a tree. Officers found the driver apparently unconscious and approached to provide assistance.
Assistant Commissioner Stephen Hegarty said the man then took possession of a loaded rifle and pointed it directly at police. Officers opened fire, striking him with several rounds. They performed CPR, but he died at the scene.
Six officers were present, although police have not yet established how many discharged their weapons. The man has not been formally identified, but police said they were confident he was 45 and that he was known to them, with previous firearm offences. A crime scene was established and the incident was declared critical.
The State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad will investigate. A separate review will be conducted by the Professional Standards Command, with oversight from the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission. Hegarty said officers had received information that there was a firearm in the vehicle but had approached because the man was not responding.
He expressed condolences to the man’s family and said professional health carers had spoken with the officers involved.
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