The incident unfolded just before midday after two officers were allegedly confronted by a man brandishing multiple knives. A man allegedly armed with a knife has been shot dead by police on Sydney’s Lower North Shore. NSW Police were called to Alexander Avenue in North Willoughby just before 12pm on Thursday following reports a man was brandishing a knife. “The two responding officers were allegedly confronted by a man, who was armed with two knives, before a constable discharged their firearm,” New South Wales Police said. Several locals expressed their shock at the incident, with one man telling SkyNews.com.au that “things like this don’t happen in Willoughby”. One business owner in Willoughby’s High Street shopping centre said he hadn’t been alerted to the crime until hordes of unmarked police cars flocked to the quiet street, shortly followed by marked police cars. Police said a critical incident team involving the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad will investigate the circumstances surrounding the man’s death. The investigation will be subject to an independent review and a report will be prepared for the Coroner. The incident follows a tough week for NSW Police’s top bosses who are dealing with the aftermath of the tasering of a 95-year-old dementia patient on Wednesday. Clare Nowland was allegedly found holding a steak knife and standing with her walking frame at a nursing home in Cooma. After she allegedly refused to comply and started approaching police, a senior constable triggered his taser. Ms Nowland, who is 152 centimetres tall and weighs 43 kilograms, fell backwards and hit her head. She died of her injuries one week later at Cooma District Hospital where she had been receiving end-of-life care.
