A 36-year-old man died at Melbourne’s Lynbrook Village shopping centre while attempting to evade police over pending family violence allegations. Detectives arrived at his residence around 1:10 pm to arrest him, but upon seeing them, he leapt from a balcony into the shopping centre and fled. Police pursued him but lost track during the search.
Officers found him inside a public toilet, where he had sustained injuries believed to be from an edged weapon. As he threatened the officers while still armed, they deployed a taser, successfully apprehending him. Following his arrest, first aid was administered, and paramedics were called.
Tragically, he was pronounced dead while waiting for a helicopter evacuation at the rear of the centre. A critical incident has since been declared, with homicide detectives investigating his death, which will be monitored by the Professional Standards Command. The coroner has also been notified. The man, known to police and reportedly without a permanent residence, was staying at a friend’s apartment.
Authorities are calling for anyone who was at the shopping centre around the time of the incident to come forward, especially those with dash cam footage. Support services are available for anyone affected by this incident, with Lifeline and Beyond Blue offering assistance.