A 63-year-old woman has been shot dead by police in Adelaide's eastern suburbs after allegedly attacking an officer with an axe early Thursday morning. Acting Commissioner Linda Williams has defended the officers involved and described the incident as tragic.
Police were called to a home on Gwynne St at Firle just before 2am following reports a woman armed with an axe was trying to force her way into a house. When officers arrived, they found the woman in the front yard allegedly still holding the weapon.
Officers allegedly repeatedly directed the woman to drop the axe and attempted to de-escalate the situation before deploying a taser, which was ineffective. The woman then allegedly advanced towards officers and struck one of them in the leg with the axe. Police fired a shot, striking the woman, who collapsed. Officers provided first aid until paramedics arrived, but she died at the scene. The injured officer suffered bruising to his leg and was treated by paramedics.
Acting Commissioner Williams said she had viewed the body-worn video footage. "I have viewed the body-worn video footage of the shooting and the interactions leading up to the firearm being discharged, and I am confident the officers acted appropriately," she said. "South Australia Police acknowledges this is a tragic incident for all involved and a reminder of the dangers officers can face when responding to calls for assistance from the community."
The shooting has triggered a coronial investigation and a Commissioner's Inquiry into whether SAPOL policies and procedures were followed. Major Crime detectives, forensic officers and investigators from the Internal Investigation Section spent Thursday examining the scene and reconstructing the events leading up to the shooting. Investigations are continuing.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The incident highlights the intense risks police and members of the public face during volatile situations, raising questions about de-escalation and the use of lethal force.
- The shooting will place South Australia Police's use-of-force policies under judicial and public scrutiny through two parallel investigations.
- The findings will have significant implications for the officers involved and for future police procedures in similar confrontations.
Background
Fatal police shootings in South Australia automatically trigger both a coronial inquest and an internal Commissioner's Inquiry to determine whether policies were followed. The incident occurred in the early hours of Thursday in the Adelaide suburb of Firle. The woman involved was 63 years old. Police reported they were responding to a call about a woman with an axe trying to force entry into a home.
What to Watch
- The findings of the coronial investigation into the woman's death.
- The outcome of the Commissioner's Inquiry into whether SAPOL policies and procedures were properly followed.
- Whether further details emerge about the woman's mental state or the events leading up to the confrontation.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedA woman was shot dead by police in Adelaide after an alleged axe attack.7NEWS: “A woman is dead and a police officer injured after a confrontation involving an axe ended in a fatal police shooting in Adelaide’s eastern suburbs.”
- SupportedActing Commissioner Linda Williams defended the officers involved.7NEWS: “Acting Commissioner Linda Williams has defended the officers involved”
- SupportedA 63-year-old woman was shot dead in Adelaide’s eastern suburbs after allegedly striking an officer with an axe.7NEWS: “The woman then allegedly advanced towards officers and struck one of them in the leg with the axe. Police fired a shot, striking the woman who then collapsed.”
- SupportedThe incident happened early Thursday morning.7NEWS: “Police were called to reports a woman armed with an axe was trying to force her way into a home on Gwynne St at Firle just before 2am on Thursday.”
- SupportedPolice were called to a home on Gwynne St at Firle just before 2am after reports a woman with an axe was trying to force her way in.7NEWS: “Police were called to reports a woman armed with an axe was trying to force her way into a home on Gwynne St at Firle just before 2am on Thursday.”
- SupportedOfficers found the woman in the front yard allegedly still holding the axe, repeatedly directed her to drop it, tried to de-escalate and deployed an ineffective taser.7NEWS: “When officers arrived, they found a 63-year-old woman in the front yard allegedly still holding the weapon. Police allegedly repeatedly directed the woman to drop the axe and attempted to de-escalate the situation before deploying a taser, which was ineffective.”
- SupportedThe woman allegedly advanced towards officers and struck one in the leg with the axe; police shot her and she collapsed.7NEWS: “The woman then allegedly advanced towards officers and struck one of them in the leg with the axe. Police fired a shot, striking the woman who then collapsed.”
- SupportedOfficers gave the woman first aid until paramedics arrived, but she died at the scene.7NEWS: “Officers provided first aid until paramedics arrived but she died at the scene.”
- SupportedThe injured officer suffered bruising to his leg and was treated by paramedics.7NEWS: “The injured officer suffered bruising to his leg and was treated by paramedics.”
- SupportedWilliams said she had viewed the body-worn video and was confident the officers acted appropriately.7NEWS: ““I have viewed the body-worn video footage of the shooting and the interactions leading up to the firearm being discharged, and I am confident the officers acted appropriately.””
- SupportedWilliams said SAPOL acknowledged the incident was tragic and a reminder of the dangers officers can face.7NEWS: ““South Australia Police acknowledges this is a tragic incident for all involved and a reminder of the dangers officers can face when responding to calls for assistance from the community,” she said.”
- SupportedThe shooting triggered a coronial investigation and a Commissioner’s Inquiry into whether SAPOL policies and procedures were followed; investigators examined the scene on Thursday and investigations are continuing.7NEWS: “The shooting has triggered a coronial investigation and a Commissioner’s Inquiry into whether SAPOL policies and procedures were followed. Major Crime detectives, forensic officers and investigators from the Internal Investigation Section spent Thursday examining the scene and reconstructing the events leading up to the shooting. Investigations are continuing.”