A patient at a medical clinic has been shot dead by police.
Officers were called to the clinic on Junction Street in Nowra, on the state’s south coast, after a patient, 34, reportedly pulled out a firearm about 1pm on Wednesday.
The man came out of the building about 90 minutes later, when he confronted officers, police said.
He was shot before being treated by on-hand paramedics and police, but he died at the scene.
Assistant Commissioner Peter Cotter said the patient was a regular at the medical centre and became ‘extremely agitated’ while speaking to a doctor.
‘During that conversation, unprovoked, he produced a firearm,’ Cotter said.
The man left the clinic and picked up a police officer’s shield before raising his gun ‘in the air and at police’.
‘A number of shots were fired by police,’ Cotter said. ‘He was hit multiple times.’
The man was known to police because of his mental health issues rather than having a criminal background.
A critical incident team from the police homicide squad will investigate the circumstances leading to the death.
The investigation will also be subject to an independent review.
Road closures are in place and police asked the public to avoid the area.