A man has been shot by police after allegedly driving at officers and ramming two police cars in Melbourne, while two other men have been shot in separate attacks overnight.
The 36-year-old Ararat man and his female passenger came to the attention of plainclothes officers after they were seen acting “suspiciously” in a McDonald’s car park at Tullamarine, just after midnight.
Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Luke Cornelius said the man drove at the officers, then at two police cars, before an officer fired his gun.
“Our members got out of their vehicles, they’ve identified themselves as police officers and as they got out of the vehicle and called upon the occupants of the vehicle to stop, that vehicle has driven in their direction, rammed two of the police vehicles and also driven at the two members,” Ass. Comm. Cornelius said.
“One of the members has discharged his firearm as a result.
“I understand gunshot wounds are serious, but it is not life-threatening.”
The driver was taken to hospital with gunshot wounds to his shoulder.
He remains in a stable condition, with non-life threatening injuries.
The 36-year-old Stawell woman in the Toyota Corolla was arrested and will be questioned by police today.
The dramatic incident has sparked an investigation with the Professional Standards Commands and IBAC, led by the Armed Crime Squad.
Ass. Comm. Cornelius said he understood why the officer fired his gun.
“I absolutely support members where they find themselves in a situation where they have to make a decision to use lethal force,” he said.
“No police officer goes to work expecting to get their firearm out.”
The officers involved were not injured, but they would be offered counselling.
“All of our members, particularly the member who discharged his firearm, are receiving welfare support,” Ass. Comm. Cornelius said.
Police are still searching for a white BMW sedan with the registration AEA 525, which was next to the Corolla, before driving off at high speed.
In a separate incident, a 25-year-old man was shot in the back before he went to a relative’s house in Melton.
Emergency services were called to the house about 2.30 am.
He was taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
In a third incident, a 35-year-old man was shot in the foot at Epping during an altercation in a car park at the rear of shops on High Street near Rufus Street.
The Armed Crime Squad were investigating on scene, following the incident which occurred after 4.30 am.
The thugs fled the scene and he was taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
In the Melton and Epping incidents, the victims refused to give police details.
The three incidents are not believed to be linked.
