Cops shoot dead knife-wielding thug as he brutally stabbed a woman in a 'frenzied' attack in a Melbourne park - as police say the assault 'wasn't random' and the victim fights for life in hospital
- Man in his 30s shot dead by police in Gladstone Park in Melbourne's north-west
- Police said a woman was stabbed prior to incident, who's in a critical condition
- They believe it wasn't a random attack and that woman and man knew each other
- Police Assistant Commissioner has backed officers' actions to open fire
- Shocked witnesses have described horrific scene in quiet street like a war zone
Police have shot dead a man suspected of trying to kill a woman in a frenzied knife attack in a park in Melbourne's north-west.
Officers rushed to John Coutts Reserve in Gladstone Park at about 3.30pm on Thursday following multiple frantic Triple-0 calls.
Police rushed to the scene and saw a woman being brutally assaulted by a man in what they described as a 'frenzied attack'.
The man refused to comply with police orders to stop assaulting the woman and officers opened fire within 30 seconds of arriving.
The man aged in his 30s died at the scene.
The older woman was rushed to hospital in a critical condition suffering from facial stab wounds so horrific she is yet been identified by police.
It's understood the woman and the man were known to each other.
'It was not a random attack,' Police Assistant Commissioner Luke Cornelius said.
A man has been shot dead by police in Gladstone Park on Thursday afternoon. Pictured are police vehicles at the scene in a quiet suburban street
Katrina Drive in Gladstone Park remain cordoned off on Thursday night as police investigate
Assistant Commissioner Cornelius said the man was known to them and had recent contact with them but didn't have a criminal record.
Officers called to the scene were not physically injured but have been left shaken by the incident.
'No member goes to work expecting to have to take the life of another person and that is a very difficult and, thankfully, a decision that does not happen too often,' Assistant Commissioner Cornelius said.
'But when a police officer does make that decision, of course it has a terrible impact on that member and also, of course, generates significant concern for the wider community.'
Assistant Commissioner Cornelius has backed the officers' actions.
'I understand that those members have acted appropriately. They've been decisive, they've taken action and they have acted in a way to keep the community safe and stop what was a frenzied attack from continuing,' he said.
'And my heart really goes out to those members. These were junior members, early in their career, and they found themselves having to make one of the worst-possible decisions that any member has to make in their career.'
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Paramedics treated a man in his 30s and an older woman at the scene in John Coutts Reserve. The man couldn't be revived
Aerial footage captured by Nine News show two people being treated at the scene by paramedics.
Dozens of police and paramedics remain at the scene in a quiet suburban street.
'I've never seen anything like it, it looked like a war zone,' witness Blake told the Herald Sun.
'It was so loud. There were that many sirens.'
Tina Gatt added: 'It is usually pretty quiet here. When I saw the police, I thought 'I hope it is not drugs or bikies', but this is terrible. It is out of the blue for this to happen.'
Other residents told the ABC they heard arguing and yelling from the park before they heard four gunshots.
'I heard the shooting. My husband, my son, ran to the fence. They were shooting on the fence. Usually I always hear noises. Then we realised someone shooting for real,' one woman told the ABC.
Another man added: 'I feel sorry for the police officer that had to do it.'
Dozens of police and paramedics remained at the scene late Thursday afternoon
Homicide Squad detectives will investigate the incident, which will be overseen by the Professional Standards Command.
Witnesses are urged to come forward.
'We understand there were numerous witnesses to this incident and we are very keen, of course, to identify and speak to any witnesses to what occurred this afternoon,' Assistant Commissioner Cornelius said.
'There is a tragic event and, as I say, we're very keen to have that support from the community in relation to allowing us to thoroughly investigate what is a horrendous crime.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Officers called to the scene weren't physically injured but have been shaken by the incident
