Man shot dead after crashing car and allegedly pointing gun at NSW police

A man was shot and killed by police in regional New South Wales after allegedly pointing a loaded rifle at responding officers, following a car crash 84km north of Yass on Sunday afternoon. The incident unfolded when police responded to reports of a vehicle colliding with a tree on a road 84km north of Yass around 2:50pm on Sunday.

Upon arrival, they found a Chrysler station wagon that had crashed into a tree, with the driver apparently unconscious. Police were informed that the man had a firearm in the car and that he was unresponsive, prompting their response. Upon approaching the vehicle, police attempted to communicate with the man, but he did not respond.

The man then retrieved the firearm and pointed it directly at a police officer, prompting police to open fire. The officers were in close proximity to the vehicle at the time of the shooting, which occurred as they were attempting to assist the man. The driver, believed to be in his 45th year, was known to police and had a prior history of firearm-related charges.

An investigation has commenced, and it will undergo an independent review by the professional standards command, overseen by the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission.