Police Mistake Leads to Fatal Shooting

0:00I'm Cory, and this is your Pulse of the City, Sydney News Today. A coroner's inquest in New South Wales has exposed a major police mistake after officer shot and killed 41-year-old Steve Pampalian in Sydney's. North Willoughby on May 25, 2023. Pampalian suffered a sudden psychotic episode and charged at the officer with two knives in his driveway, leading to three fatal shots. Right after, an assistant commissioner wrongly claim Pampalian was known to police, but detectives confirmed he had zero criminal history. Earlier this week, experts testified that Pampalian psychosis built over six months, tied to religious delusions but separate from his long-treated anxiety. His family and doctors saw no warning signs that morning when he seemed normal before heading out. Neighbors spotted him acting strangely, muttering and chasing someone, so they called police thinking it was a break-in, not a mental health crisis. Pampalian's brother called him a gentle giant with a calm presence and warm humor,

1:01the star of his niece's eyes. The deputy corner teared up hearing the family's pain, especially how one niece mourned that he'd miss her life's updates. This tragedy was the second of four similar police encounters that year, killing vulnerable people, sparking big questions on mental health responses. Forensic psychiatrist Danny Sullivan said police had no chance to talk him down or ease his distress with zero prior info to help. The shooting officer, now retired, didn't activate his body-worn camera in the fast-moving moment. Since then, New South Wales police ramped up changes, like auto-activating body cams and nearby ones when guns or tasers come out, plus yearly, in-person mental health training for all officers. Officials say these fixes stem from this and other cases, aiming to better handle crises. A message from our sponsor supports today's story. It is a pillow that plays your podcast and music without earbuds.