A 37-year-old man has been taken to hospital after being shot by police in the northern coastal Perth suburb of Yanchep overnight.
Police said two officers were patrolling in Yanchep, which is about 50 kilometres north of the Perth CBD, just after midnight when they noticed a man acting in a strange manner.
When the officers approached the man, police said he threatened them with a knife before running off into nearby bushland.
"The man reappeared from the bushes and confronted the officers with a knife and a pole," a police statement said.
"Both officers have discharged their firearms."
"The man was given first aid by police until St John Ambulance paramedics arrived."
Neighbours heard shouts about knife
Witnesses said they saw the two officers going into bushland on a hill, across the road from a row of homes.
Residents described hearing yelling, and commands, with someone shouting "Where's the knife?".
It all happened close to Shane McDonald's home.
"Somebody was asking somebody to stop, sounded like somebody was addressing somebody, and they just wanted to talk to them," he said.
"It was strange hearing three gunshots in a row, it was quite loud and very discernible. Like, you couldn't mistake it."
Mr McDonald said he hadn't heard anything like it before.
"Nothing like that ever, before up here, not gunshot, anyway, a few minor scuffles and that, here and there, he said.
One resident said she heard three bangs, which sounded like fireworks.
She said she felt sorry for the officers and what they must be going through.
Shot man in stable condition
The 37-year-old man was taken to Royal Perth Hospital where he has undergone surgery and is in a stable condition.
The Major Crime Division and the Internal Affairs Unit are investigating the incident.
Forensic officers were called to the scene overnight and a large area of Lady Lindsey Cove remains blocked off this morning.
The area is near a primary school.
WA Police Union president Harry Arnott said he attended the scene as soon as he was notified of the incident.
"Thankfully, due to their professionalism and training, our members were not injured and are coping well given what they have been through," Mr Arnott said in a statement.
"This is yet another illustration of the unique and dangerous work police officers do every single day.
"Given the incident is now (the) subject of an internal investigation, which is standard practice, we cannot provide any further details at this time.
"We will continue to assist our members throughout the process as their welfare is our paramount concern."
Officers 'courageous': police commissioner
WA Police Commissioner Chris Dawson told radio 6PR both officers were wearing body cameras.
"I've seen the vision, they were confronted with a very dangerous situation, they've acted courageously," Mr Dawson told the Perth radio station.
"The situation is under investigation but the sad result is that they were confronted with him armed with a knife, with a pole, [and] despite being called multiple times, he made moves towards them, three shots have been fired."
He said the knife was "one of those large kitchen type knives", and he wished the 37-year-old man a full recovery.
"We just don't know the background and the circumstances behind every person that we come across, and it seems to be one of those sort of situations where they've been on patrol, they've seen this fellow and they're very dynamic situations.
"We have to respond to whatever threat is in front of us.
"That's something that no police officer wants to have to deal with, but we just have to, it's part of our job, it is the risk that comes from policing."
"It was definitely a dangerous situation and so they [police officers] have been given 72 hours post-critical incident leave and we will provide that welfare."
Shooting 'traumatic': Premier
Premier Mark McGowan described the shooting as a "very, very traumatic event."
"I understand the police officers did their best to try and get the individual to disarm and stop being aggressive, unfortunately it ended up the way it did," he said.
"Our police officers do a difficult job in very difficult situations and circumstances."
