A Northern Territory police officer has fired two shots “in an attempt to stop [a] vehicle” in the Top End satellite city of Palmerston.
In a statement released late yesterday, an NT Police spokesperson said officers received “multiple reports of a man allegedly armed with a blunt weapon attempting to break into houses” in Bakewell, south-east of Darwin, at about 11.20am.
Police allege the man had stolen a set of keys to a silver Toyota Corolla parked at a residence in Firefly Court before being intercepted.
“Attending police officers confronted the [alleged] offender as he entered the vehicle and began to flee from the scene,” they said.
“Police can confirm one officer drew their firearm and allegedly discharged two rounds during the incident in an attempt to stop the vehicle.”
The spokesperson said the vehicle then continued driving away from the scene before turning up abandoned in bushland off Roystonea Avenue and no injuries were reported.
“The entire circumstances surrounding this incident are under investigation,” they said.
“The use of force has been declared a serious custody incident and will be subject to the appropriate investigative processes with oversight from the Professional Standards Command.”
