Police confront Dennis Doolan on Wednesday. Credit:Facebook In a statement released on Wednesday night, police said "investigators have confirmed that the man was allegedly armed with a large handle from a mattock [garden implement] at the time of the shooting". Fairfax Media understands Mr Doolan armed himself with other weapons, including a screwdriver and a broken plate, and had been menacing residents and police that morning. Mr Clark, who initially thought the weapon was a baseball bat, said he believed Mr Doolan had thrown it on the grass behind him and had turned away from officers when he was shot about midday. Another Jindalee Circuit resident shared a photo of the wooden mattock handle after the incident. Mr Clark corroborated that it was the implement he saw Mr Doolan holding.

Dennis Doolan is handcuffed on the ground after the shooting. The long-time resident said he walked out the front of his house to have a coffee about 10am on Wednesday when he saw police chasing three children through the street. About half an hour later, Mr Doolan came running through Jindalee Circuit with the same police officers on his tail. Moments after the shooting. Credit:Cowra Guardian "He was jumping over back fences, the police were sitting out in the front yards, then running through the yards trying to jump over the fences and chase him," he said.

"Then he ran off down some other street and I thought that was that." The scene in Jindalee Circuit following the shooting. Credit:Facebook/TammyWilliams About half an hour later, Mr Doolan reappeared in Jindalee Crescent, this time with a screwdriver in his hand. One of three police officers drew his gun and shouted at Mr Doolan, "Drop the weapon, drop the weapon." A wooden weapon, believed to be the mattock handle used by Dennis Doolan. Credit:Facebook/Tammy Williams

It was at this moment that a widely-circulated photo was taken, showing Mr Doolan in a red T-shirt with his hands in the air and appearing to walk away from the officers. Mr Clark said Mr Doolan dropped the screwdriver and ran off again, running through residents' backyards and over fences. Dennis Doolan in an image issued by police in 2007. "It went quiet again for about five or 10 minutes and then he came back over number 11's backyard and ... bobbed down and picked up a bat and jumped over another fence," he said. "That's when the female officer had her [baton] out and was calling out to her partner, saying, 'He's over here, he's over here.' "

He said a male officer ran over with his gun drawn and told Mr Doolan to drop the weapon. The female officer also dropped her baton and drew her gun. "He threw the bat behind him then started walking off slowly, then the police officer told him, 'Freeze, get down, get down' and then he was about to run off and he got shot." He said Mr Doolan did not appear to be armed. "He had no need to get shot," he said. Mr Clark called an ambulance as Mr Doolan lay handcuffed on the road with a gunshot wound.

"We got him off the road, we put a blanket under him and I got an umbrella to keep the sun off his face and gave him water," he said. "At that point, he was still sort of calm. He was mouthing off a little and then he started screaming because I think he realised he got shot." Family members began converging on Jindalee Circuit, many coming from a nearby funeral for three Indigenous people including two community elders. Mr Clark said it was incredibly tense, with about 50 residents yelling at police. He said he was badly shaken after witnessing the ordeal. "When I close my eyes I can still picture it," he said. Police have not said why they were initially called to the area but said "on arrival officers located a man and attempted to speak with him".

Fairfax Media has been told police believed Mr Doolan may have committed some property offences in the area. It is understood he did not have any outstanding warrants. He has a lengthy criminal history and has escaped police custody before. Loading He has not been charged with any offences in connection with Wednesday's events. A former resident described Jindalee Crescent as a crime hot spot with "fights, tyres getting slashed, bottles smashing, loud music" almost every night.