Man shot dead in Carlisle siege
A man has been shot dead by police after holding a knife to a woman's throat during a standoff at a Carlisle delicatessen this morning.
The 37-year-old woman, who is a staff member at The Lunch Club deli, received a gunshot injury and has been taken to hospital in a serious condition.
Police Commissioner Karl O'Callaghan said the 38-year-old man entered the store armed with a knife and threatened the woman before taking her a short distance down the street.
He said the man was holding a knife to her throat when a police officer arrived at about 8am.
The first officer to arrive at the deli called for urgent backup and was joined by several police who were in the area.
Mr O'Callaghan said police attempted to negotiate with the man before several officers fired at the man.
SEE EXCLUSIVE VISION ON 7NEWS AT 6PM TONIGHT
The Commissioner said the man received "a number" of gunshot wounds but would not confirm how many times he had been shot.
Officers gave first aid to both the man and the woman before paramedics arrived. The man died at the scene.
St John Ambulance transferred the woman to Royal Perth Hospital where she is receiving treatment for serious injuries.
Mr O'Callaghan refused to say how many officers were involved but said they had to make a "split second" decision to fire their weapons.
"The officers there were under a lot of pressure, obviously it's a complex situation, they have to make a decision in rapid circumstance and it seems they were certainly concerned about the welfare and life of the woman concerned and so they responded as they've been trained to do," he said.
Police at the scene of fatal Carlisle shooting. Picture: Michael O'Brien / The West Australian
The woman and man did not know each other and it is understood at least one member of the man's family was in he store at the time.
Carlisle resident Connor Bennett said he woke to shouting outside the deli and saw a man and a woman standing near several police officers.
"The guy was clearly on drugs and trying to stab the girl, he tried to stab her once and tried to stab her twice and the police fired shots," he said.
Mr Bennett said he heard about seven gunshots.
The drama was witnessed by customers who were ordering breakfast at the time.
The intersection of Harris and Oats streets was cordoned off as police internal affairs, forensics officers and detectives combed the scene.
Oats Street cordoned off as police investigate shooting death. Picture: Michael O'Brien/ The West Australian
Detectives spoke to several witnesses and the police Chaplin and Health and Welfare officers have offered them support.
Major crime squad officers are investigating and the police internal affairs unit is conducting a separate investigation.
