Inquest Reveals Man Ignored Police Warnings Before Being Shot

A man wielding a gun wanted the police to shoot him and was fatally wounded within seconds of being instructed to drop his weapon, an inquest revealed.

Corey Selby pointed his firearm at officers outside Tenterfield Police Station on Jan. 19, 2023, resulting in the fatal shooting.

Earlier that day, the 48-year-old called emergency services to warn that his wife and children were in danger, expressing his intent to harm them while urging officers to respond quickly. His wife, Cindy, stated that Mr. Selby wanted to be shot and had instructed her to leave with the children as he no longer wanted to live, according to Deputy State Coroner Carmel Forbes.

It was reported that Mr. Selby planned to show his rifle to police upon their arrival and provoke them to shoot him, but no officers showed up. Subsequently, he went to the Tenterfield Police Station and aimed his weapon at the officers, unaware that his family had been advised to seek refuge at the station.

Senior Constable Craig Jackman, one of the attending highway-patrol officers, recounted witnessing the tense situation between Mr. Selby and the on-site police during the inquest in Armidale. He mentioned that officers instructed Mr. Selby to drop his gun as he exited his police car, and within seconds, shots were fired.

Mr. Selby continued to advance towards the officers while holding his weapon before being shot by the police.

Senior Constable Jackman described ducking when he saw the guns drawn and shots fired, and upon getting up, he saw Mr. Selby lying on the ground.

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