Armed patient shot dead in police stand-off at Nowra medical centre

Police were called to the Junction Street Family Practice just before 1pm on Wednesday January 10, after reports a patient had produced a firearm.

The South Coast Register reports there was a series of six shots, fired in rapid succession at 2.40pm and that heavily armed police ran towards the building, on the corner of Osborne Street.

They were followed by paramedics running to and from ambulances.

At a press conference a short time ago, assistant commissioner Peter Cotter, southern region commander, said the 34-year-old man, who regularly attended the medical centre, had been talking with a doctor when he became "extremely agitated" and spoke of "alarming things".

"During that conversation, and unprovoked, he produced a firearm," Cotter said.

Medical centre staff called Nowra police, who arrived shortly after and began negotiations that were carried out through the open door, walls and windows for almost two hours.

Four people who were inside the medical centre with the armed man escaped, leaving the gunman inside alone. The man later emerged onto Junction Street and resumed talking to police.

"But at this stage the man produced the gun and brandished it at police," Cotter said.

"The police at the time were holding a ballistic shield. That ballistic shield was dropped during this initial confrontation and the police retreated. The man picked up the shield, further brandished the gun, raising it in the air and raising it at police, and a number of shots were fired by police in the direction of the man."

The man, who is believed to be a South Coast resident, was hit by multiple bullets.

He was immediately tended to by officers and NSW Ambulance paramedics, but died at the scene. He is yet to be formally identified.

A Glock semi-automatic pistol was found at the scene. Cotter said police were unsure if the man fired any shots.

"Any death is tragic. Every life equals a life. Police respond to protect life. They responded today in the absolute good faith, responding to an alarm of a man with a gun in a surgery, holding people hostage, holding people captive, brandishing that gun," Cotter said.

"He brandished the gun at them. He was armed with one of our own shields. I can't step into the minds of our police officers, and it's not my role to, except to say obviously there was fear in their minds, and they acted upon that fear."

Cotter said the deceased man had a limited, non-violent criminal history, but he had interacted with police amid increasing concerns for his mental health.

Police have established a crime scene and a critical incident team, to be led by the homicide squad and reviewed by the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission.

Junction Street was closed for two blocks due to the police operation, with neighbouring businesses placed in lockdown.