Terrifying Melbourne shopping centre shooting unfolds on live radio
The moment an armed man was shot by police at a Melbourne shopping centre on Tuesday morning has been captured on live radio.
A witness at Lilydale Marketplace, in the city’s northeast, was relaying the tense situation to 3AW’s Neil Mitchell after police officers surrounded the man, who Victoria Police say was armed with an “edged weapon”.
“He’s on the move... he’s just wandering,” the woman named Pauline says, revealing the man was in possession of a knife.
Mitchell urges Pauline to get to a safe position as she tells him the man continues to move forward.
As she describes the unfolding incident, shots can then be heard in the background.
“There’s shooting.. they’ve just shot!” she exclaims.
Victoria Police confirmed a man was shot in the upper body after responding to the incident at the shopping complex at about 8.30am.
Ambulance Victoria said the man was in a serious condition and was airlifted to hospital.
Shooting under investigation
Victoria Police confirmed the incident will be investigated by the Armed Crime Squad and overseen by the Professional Standards Command.
While Pauline did not see the shooting, she told Mitchell she was surprised officers opened fire.
"He didn't seem agitated, he was just wandering," she said.
"I don't know if he really meant to do anything, He wasn't in an agitated state, he wasn't waving the knife - he was just holding it. I don't know what he did that caused them to actually let loose."
Victoria Police said the man had refused to drop the knife when asked.
It comes less than 24 hours after video circulating on social media showed officers in Epping on Sunday arresting a 32-year-old man who was reportedly experiencing a psychotic episode.
In one video a police car can be seen striking the man, while another video shows one officer appear to stomp on his head.
A senior constable has since been suspended while investigations into the incident are ongoing.
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