Tyron Smith: Man accused of machete-armed home invasion dies in hospital

A 20-year-old man police accused of entering a WA property armed with a machete has died in hospital days after a violent altercation with the homeowner.

The family of Tyron Smith spoke to media on Wednesday, where they called for full transparency from WA Police over his death.

In a statement released at the weekend, police said the incident unfolded about 10.15am on Friday when the 20-year-old entered a property on Kenneally Place, Boulder.

It is understood police have been treating the incident as a home invasion where Mr Smith was accused of brandishing a machete-like weapon while wearing a balaclava.

A man living at the home, whose wife and child were also present at the time, confronted Mr Smith and an altercation broke out.

Mr Smith suffered serious injuries in the altercation while the homeowner suffered an arm injury and lacerations to his hands that required hospital treatment.

“Police got to this address and went in and did CPR, brought my son’s heart back,” his mother Kathleen O’Loughlin told reporters.

Mr Smith was conveyed to Kalgoorlie Regional Hospital before being flown to Royal Perth Hospital’s intensive care unit.

Police confirmed he has since died in hospital.

“I did not sleep for three days straight, hoping my son would wake ... but he didn’t wake,” Ms O’Loughlin said.

The family met with WA Police Deputy Commissioner Alan Adams to discuss the incident on Wednesday where they had hoped to see CCTV footage of the incident.

In the aftermath of the two-hour long meeting, Ms O’Loughlin told The Nightly the discussion went “very well”.

Everyone has a right to defend themselves, but they don’t have the right to take the law into their own hands.

Ms O’Loughlin said Mr Adams was “helpful” and that police would continue to share more information as it comes to hand during the investigation.

Major crime detectives are continuing to investigate the incident, with police confirming the homeowner had not been charged on Wednesday.

It is understood the cause of Mr Smith’s death is yet to be determined by WA Police as they await the results of an autopsy.

The homeowner has been assisting police with the investigation.

Ms O’Loughlin said her son had been released from prison 26 days before his death. He had also served time at Banksia Hill Juvenile Detention Centre throughout his childhood.

“We are hopeful that the police will get to the bottom of what happened, and how it came to be that my son died in a house, on a suburban street, in Kalgoorlie,” Ms O’Loughlin said.

“I appeal to the public to provide any information that may assist in determining what happened to my son.”

Several members of Mr Smith’s family have travelled to Perth since his death.

“We’ve been here for four days ... I believe my son passed away in that house because he hasn’t woken up to us in the four days we have been here at Royal Perth Hospital.”

While the family anxiously await clarification as to what transpired, they are calling for calm from the First Nations community.

“We don’t want family members or anyone in the community that’s close to us to go out run amok — we want calm,” they said.

Community advocate Gerry Georgatos said he hoped police would liaise with the family daily.

“Police want to work with the family at every level, and hopefully that translates to what happens,” he said.

“They want calm, but they want truth to be the journey or way to that calm.”

A nearby resident, who did not want to be named, claimed she heard the altercation unfolding, called police, then stayed inside for safety.

She said the couple involved in the incident have since fled the area out of fear.

“They are hardworking ... They are just making their way in the world. They haven’t returned,” she said.

The woman said she was sad to hear the young man had died but fearful that the situation will “turn into something that it maybe shouldn’t”.

“I don’t feel safe. And I’ve contacted various charitable agencies to see if we can get temporary accommodation elsewhere if things kick off so that we have somewhere safe to go,” she said.

“My neighbours ... they’re already scared as well and want to leave.”

Premier Roger Cook said: “Everyone has a right to defend themselves, but they don’t have the right to take the law into their own hands.

“There is a natural balance that is both informed by common sense, but also by our laws and everyone has the right to defend their home, but they don’t have the right to do so in a way which is unnecessarily violent,” he added.

“I just stress (that) we don’t know the circumstances in this particular situation. Please, everyone, allow the police to conduct their work, to investigate the circumstances and to provide information to the public, and that is the way that we can discharge justice in this particular circumstance.”

While Mr Cook said he had not been briefed on the incident, he understood it occurred “as a result of a home invasion” followed by a “very violent set of circumstances”.