2 weeks Ago By Riley Walter
A man who allegedly stole a car from the home of a Sydney MP and drove it at police has died after being shot by officers. The 26-year-old was shot in the neck on October 4 when he allegedly drove a stolen Mercedes-Benz SUV, belonging to Penrith MP Karen McKeown’s husband, at officers who had tracked the car to an underground car park in Wentworthville. He died at Westmead Hospital on Wednesday, NSW Police said in a statement.
A man has died after being shot by NSW Police. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer The passenger, a 34-year-old man, was shot in the leg and taken to Westmead Hospital in a serious but stable condition. He has not been charged.
The police officers had followed a tracking device on the car, reported stolen hours before, to a Wentworthville home before it was allegedly driven at them. They were not physically injured. Last Friday, Acting Assistant Commissioner Paul Dunstan said the car was driven at officers after they discovered it inside a locked garage in an underground car park.
“As they’ve opened that garage door, the vehicle has immediately accelerated towards them. As a result, police withdrew their firearms and were required to fire a number of shots,” he said. Dunstan said five police, including a sergeant and a probationary constable, were involved in the incident, and three fired their guns.
All officers are being supported by NSW Police and the state’s police union, he said. He said the officers’ body-worn cameras were believed to have been activated at the time of the shooting. A critical incident team made up of homicide squad detectives has been established to investigate the shooting.
The shooting is also the subject of an independent review, police said. McKeown, who was at home at the time of the alleged break-in, said she was “shaken from the events” but unharmed. “Last night my home was broken into and my husband’s car stolen.
I reported this to police,” the state Labor MP said at the time. “While I am shaken from the events, thankfully I am unharmed. I want to thank NSW Police, in particular the local area command at both Penrith and Cumberland police for their prompt response.
Political leaders often praise police for their bravery. Today, I have had a first-hand experience of this. I won’t be making any further comments at this time.
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