A man is dead after being shot by police at a busy shopping centre in Sydney’s west. The incident occurred at Westfield Mount Druitt on Thursday afternoon.

New South Wales Police were responding to reports of a brawl in the car park. Officers arrived at the scene around 3:15 p.m. and were afterward confronted by a man allegedly armed with a machete.Police stated the man threatened the officers.

In response, officers discharged their firearms, striking the man. First aid was administered immediately by the officers, and paramedics from NSW Ambulance also provided treatment.

the man,believed to be in his 20s,succumbed to his injuries at the scene. A critical incident was declared by police shortly after 4 p.m. Investigations into the shooting are now underway,and a crime scene has been established at the location.

Witnesses described a chaotic scene. One woman, who was at a child’s birthday party inside the shopping centre, recounted hearing multiple gunshots. She was in Timezone with the children when people began running into the venue, shouting about a shooter.

“Next thing we know, a whole bunch of people just come running in, they were yelling that there’s a shooter running around,” she told reporters. “Next thing is we hear six shots go off.”