The actions of police who pepper sprayed, Tasered and then shot a man dead in New South Wales yesterday were "textbook", according to a senior officer.
The man died in hospital on the Gold Coast after police said he confronted them with a knife at a home in Grafton on the NSW mid-north coast.
Police were called to a unit on Turf Street about 4:00pm following reports of a disturbance.
Assistant Commissioner Max Mitchell said police said a number of "tactical options" were used by the three officers who responded.
"Both the Taser and OC spray were deployed, prior to police having to shoot the individual," he said.
"It's very unfortunate circumstances. The male was attended to by police at the scene, prior to ambulance arriving."
The man was taken to Grafton Hospital in a critical condition before being flown to Gold Coast University Hospital, where he died.
"It's an unfortunate situation and from what I've been briefed on, police have undertaken their tactical option textbook," Assistant Commissioner Mitchell said.
"These are the kind of issues that will be looked at by the investigation teams."
Police said a critical incident investigation was underway.
"No police officer wants to shoot an individual," Assistant Commissioner Mitchell said.
"It is traumatic."
