Man shot dead by police after horrific attack on his sister in Yarra Junction, Victoria

A man has been shot dead by police while trying to strangle his sister, who had he just attacked with a samurai sword.

The victim was unconscious and suffering a partially severed arm when officers arrived to find the brother attacking her on a bed in the family’s home.

Police said they tasered him three times but he would not stop strangling his sister, so one officer then fired his gun at him.

The 45-year-old man died at the scene.

The siblings’ mother had called police to their family home on Warburton Hwy at Yarra Junction, about an hour’s drive east of Melbourne CBD, about 5.30pm on Wednesday.

She told police the pair were involved in a “violent fight” and that the brother had a history of mental health issues and was armed with a samurai sword.

The two male police officers entered the home and heard screaming, Assistant Commissioner Russell Barrett said.

They were then confronted by the distressing scene in a bedroom.

After shooting the man, the officers gave medical assistance to the 48-year-old woman while they waited for paramedics.

She was airlifted to hospital with life-threatening injuries and remains in an induced coma.

Barrett said the siblings’ 77-year-old mother was in “a very distressed state” and was taken to hospital on Wednesday night.

She was not physically injured.

Another family member, a 49-year-old man, was also at the property at the time but was also not physically injured.

Police and forensic examiners remain at the scene which Barrett described as “very graphic and dramatic”.

“This is an incredibly traumatic situation,” Barrett said.

“Our hearts go out to the family. You can imagine what the mother is going through at this moment.

“It’s a tragic circumstance for the family and for a relatively small rural community.”

Barrett said he had watched the officers’ body-worn camera footage and saw the tasers were not effective.

Without intervention by police the woman could have died, he said.

“I consider their actions to be brave and courageous and they’ve got my full support,” Barrett said.

“It’s a graphic scene, its every police officer’s nightmare.

“These police officers have come to work doing what they do every day … and been confronted with a situation where they’ve had to take life-taking action.

“No police officer wants to take these actions.”

The two officers were distressed and are receiving support from Victoria Police.

Investigations continue.