According to a statement from Tasmania Police, the officer was shot at by “a member of the public” after arriving at a residence in North Motton, close to Ulverstone, on Monday morning.
A second policeman shot back, wounding the suspect’s hand. According to authorities, the suspect turned himself in and was treated in a hospital.
Despite Australia’s stringent gun prohibitions, fatal shootings are still uncommon there.
A police spokeswoman stated that “there is no ongoing threat to the public” after the shooting on Monday, adding that a crime scene had been set up in North Motton and the coroner had been informed.
“The safety of our officers is our number one priority, and to see an officer tragically killed in those circumstances is truly shocking,” .
