The 34-year-old man, who was a known patient of the clinic, drew a gun on his GP during a consult.
A 34-year-old NSW man was shot and killed by police outside Junction Street Family Practice in Nowra on Wednesday afternoon after allegedly threatening his GP with a gun.
No doctors or practice staff were injured as a result of the incident, which has since been referred to the State Crime Command’s homicide squad.
According to police, the man – who has been identified as Alexander Stuart Pinnock – presented for a consult with his regular GP at around midday before becoming “extremely agitated” and saying “many alarming things”.
He then pulled out a gun, believed to be a Glock semi-automatic pistol, prompting practice staff to call the police.
Three of the four staff members present were able to exit the building almost immediately after the police began negotiations. The fourth person, understood to be Mr Pinnock’s GP, was able to leave shortly after.
There were no other patients in the clinic at the time.
Police negotiated with Mr Pinnock for several hours, and at some point he was able to obtain a ballistics shield which had been dropped by a retreating officer.
“He further brandished the gun, raising it in the air and raising it at police,” NSW Police assistant commissioner Peter Cotter said.
“A number of shots were fired by police in the direction of the man.”
Witnesses described hearing at least six gunshots.
Mr Pinnock died at the scene, despite attending paramedics attempts to revive him.
A Google review of the clinic published three months ago under Mr Pinnock’s name rated Junction Street Family Practice five stars and praised the “truly exceptional” medical treatment he had received from his GP.
Mr Pinnock had a minor criminal record – last year, he pleaded guilty to six charges relating to unqualified legal practice – and was known to local police.
He was not known to be violent.
“Generally, [Mr Pinnock’s contact with police] has come through … psychological medical episodes which have required our intervention,” Mr Cotter said.
In coverage of Mr Pinnock’s 2023 court case, the Daily Mail reported that he had been diagnosed with schizophrenia.
It’s not clear whether this diagnosis had any bearing on Wednesday’s incident.
Australian research indicates that people with schizophrenic-spectrum disorders are far more likely than the general public to become the victims of a violent crime.
There is growing consensus that people with severe mental illness are more likely to be victims of violent crime than perpetrators.
Police are still investigating how he obtained the weapon.
Junction Street Family Practice was unable to comment.
Note: this story was published on Wednesday afternoon and has since been updated.
