Source : the age
A police officer shot a woman dead and wounded a man after they drove a car at him in South Melbourne.
Officers were called to Cecil Street following reports of a man with a machete around 5pm.
A man was transported from the scene by ambulance after the incident.Credit: Nine News
Police then located the man and while they were arresting him, a car was driven at a police officer, striking him in the legs.
The officer then shot at the car.
The 34-year-old female driver died at the scene, while the 26-year-old male passenger was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Acting Southern area assistant commissioner Therese Fitzgerald told media at the scene on Saturday night that the man and woman were in a Ford Territory with stolen South Australian number plates when the shooting occurred.
Fitzgerald said the senior constable discharged his gun four times during the shooting.
She said the officer had been taken to hospital with non life-threatening injuries to his legs after he was hit by the car.
“As a result of the police being driven at by the vehicle, a police member has discharged his firearm four times, and sadly, a 34-year-old female is deceased,” she said.
Homicide Squad detectives will now investigate the matter with oversight from Professional Standards Command, as is standard procedure for a fatal police shooting.
Police have taped off an area near the intersection and have ushered concerned pedestrians away from the scene.
Police and an ambulance at the scene of the shooting in South Melbourne late on Saturday.Credit: Nine News
Nearby residents told Nine News Melbourne that they heard what sounded like gunshots.
“There were a few bangs, not quite sure what they were, but my wife thought they were gunshots”, resident Alan said.
He said police arrived en masse.
Police swarmed to the area near Park and Dow streets in South Melbourne late on Saturday.Credit: Nien News
