<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A man who was </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/sydney-shooting-mount-druitt-cinema/3201d190-3426-42ac-8a05-0b2b80d9bbc0" rel="" target="_blank" title="shot dead by police at a shopping centre in western Sydney"><span>shot dead by police at a shopping centre in western Sydney</span></a><span> had brought a machete following a fight his wife was involved in, according to police who have defended the actions of the officers involved.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Officers were called to reports of a carpark brawl at the Westfield in Mount Druitt around 3pm yesterday when it was packed with Saturday afternoon shoppers.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Two groups of women, aged in their 20s, were fighting with knives and machetes on the rooftop car park outside the Hoyts cinema, according to police.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/prime-minister-anthony-albanese-in-china-updates/82c02eb0-147f-4ef2-b96b-8754cde5081d" rel="" target="_blank" title="'Tough' talks looming for Anthony Albanese and President Xi Jinping"><strong><span>'Tough' talks looming for Anthony Albanese and President Xi Jinping</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Gavin Wood said a 29-year-old man came to the area following the scuffle and brought an "alarmingly sized" machete.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Wood said officers asked the man to drop the machete but he refused and continued to walk towards the group of women.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A police officer then fired a gun, striking and killing him.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/mount-druitt-updates-man-shot-by-police-in-westfield-carpark-after-fight-breaks-out/ab4cd513-cffb-450f-9444-524720ecd0bb" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The man was treated by paramedics but died at the scene.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Police allege the man's wife was part of the group fighting in the carpark.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>She was arrested and later released without charge pending further investigation, Wood said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/trump-announces-30-tariffs-against-eu-mexico-to-begin-aug-1-rattling-major-us-trading-partners/e4dfbf95-fa37-4d42-964c-3a6e2e79ed17" target="_blank" title="Trump 'blows up rules' and hands down new tariffs"><strong><span>Trump 'blows up rules' and hands down new tariffs</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He said the two groups were not known to each other.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It was an opportunistic meeting, they were not known to each other or have any gang affilation," Wood said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It was a sheer fluke they met, crossed paths and a fight happened."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The deceased man, who is a father of two young daughters, is local to the area.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He was also known to police but did not have an extensive criminal history, Wood said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Police have launched a critical incident investigation.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"[It] will be subject to scrutiny, but their actions were brave," Wood said of the officers involved.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We will put our arms around those police.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"They are good people, they didn't come into work yesterday knowing they had to shoot someone."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/wantirna-south-second-person-dies-after-pedestrians-struck-by-car/a81ab8c6-eeb1-4a2c-ae80-309454915bd9" target="_blank" title="Second person dies after car hits pedestrians at Melbourne playground"><strong><span>Second person dies after car hits pedestrians at Melbourne playground</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He said he was "content" with the actions of the officers involved.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The melee was very, very quick and very swift. And they've done their job. They've done it well," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Wood confirmed the carpark was locked down during the incident and at no point did the fight spill into the Westfield.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Police were on-site and responded to a critical incident within the Westfield Mt Druitt car park this afternoon," shopping centre owners Scentre Group said yesterday in a statement.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Our team are providing full assistance to Police and Emergency Services.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The safety and security of our customers, business partners and people is our highest priority."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. 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