Police Officer Shoots Woman Dead After Being Pinned by Stolen Car in South Melbourne (video)

CCTV shows a police officer pinned to the wall by a car, and opening fire on the driver

A dramatic confrontation in South Melbourne ended in a fatal police shooting after a woman drove a stolen vehicle into an officer, pinning him against a wall and prompting him to open fire in self-defense. The incident, captured on CCTV, unfolded on Saturday afternoon as officers responded to reports of a man allegedly armed with a machete.

As officers moved to arrest a suspect in the area, a grey Ford Territory suddenly struck one of the officers, trapping him between the vehicle and a wall. The officer, visibly screaming in pain, fired four shots through the windscreen of the car. The 34-year-old woman driving the stolen vehicle was killed at the scene. Her 26-year-old male passenger sustained non-life-threatening gunshot wounds and was taken to hospital.

The injured officer suffered a broken leg and was also transported to the hospital. He has since been discharged. Another individual, a 39-year-old South Melbourne man, was taken to the hospital as a precaution and later released. He was charged with possession of a prohibited weapon and bicycle theft. Authorities had previously been seeking him in relation to unspecified offences. He has been granted bail and is scheduled to appear in Melbourne Magistrates Court on August 12.

The shooting took place in the Victorian state of Australia

Victoria Police have not confirmed any connection between the occupants of the stolen vehicle and the 39-year-old man. The officer involved in the shooting has received full support from his colleagues and the Victorian Police Association.

Acting Assistant Police Commissioner Terese Fitzgerald commended the officer's response, stating, "It appears his response to this incident has been in line with his training and we will give him all the support he needs." She acknowledged the risks police face daily and added, “This is not a great day for you at work when this occurs. It is terrifying, and it could have been far worse.”

Victorian Police Association Secretary Wayne Gatt echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the life-threatening nature of such incidents: "When a car’s coming at you, there’s not a lot you can do. It is literally a case of do or die.” Gatt noted that officers regularly face similar high-risk situations that can have life-altering or fatal consequences. “There’s no magic wand for situations like this,” he said.

Local residents described hearing loud bangs during the confrontation, with one witness saying, “There was one policeman with his back to the wall getting attention from other officers.”

Victorian Minister Steve Dimopoulos expressed sympathy for all affected, stating, “Our thoughts are absolutely with the senior constable at hospital, his family, also the family and loved ones of the woman who passed away.”

The shooting will be investigated by detectives under the oversight of the Professional Standards Command, following standard procedure for any fatal police shooting.

In a related policy development, Victoria will ban the possession of machetes starting September 1. Minister Dimopoulos noted that this would be the first such ban in Australia, stating, “The joint police say the machete ban can safely be implemented in September. That’s what the Victorian government will do. We’ll follow the police advice.”

The video of the incident