A 71-year-old man who allegedly shot at police during an attempted arrest was found dead on a property in Canberra's south on Saturday night. ACT Policing officers arrived at a house on Galloway Street in Isabella Plains at about 7:50pm to arrest the man for serious family violence offences allegedly committed against his partner, who was in hospital being treated for injuries.
When police arrived, the man allegedly fired several shots at them. Acting Commander Joseph Thorn said police returned fire before the man barricaded himself in a shed. Officers attempted to speak with the man, but he refused to engage.
Nearby residents were evacuated and the street was cordoned off. The Australian Federal Police tactical response and bomb response teams were called in, along with specialist negotiators. During negotiations, the man suggested there might be explosives at the scene.
Acting Commander Thorn said there was limited dialogue with the man, and when dialogue was completely lost, police teams entered the shed. The man was found dead at about 11:50pm from suspected self-inflicted injuries.
“It's a traumatic scene for everyone involved,” Acting Commander Thorn said. “Our members are regularly putting themselves in harm's way for the safety of the community so it's a difficult situation for all involved.” He added that welfare services are being made available to all members.
Galloway Street remained partly closed on Sunday as police conducted door-to-door interviews. The case has been referred to the Coroner, ACT Policing's Criminal Investigations, and AFP Professional Standards.
