AN estranged father, shot by police moments after he stabbed his son to death on Melbournes outskirts, has died in hospital.

The Chelsea Heights man, 54, horrifically killed the 11-year-old boy during cricket training at Tyabb Cricket Ground about 6.30pm yesterday.

The boy’s mother was at the ground.

Four police officers tried to subdue the man with capsicum spray before shooting him in the chest when he turned on them with a knife, Commander Doug Fryer said.

He was taken to The Alfred hospital where he died about 1.30am, Victoria Police spokeswoman Natalie Webster said.

“I can confirm that the male that the police shot was the ­father of the deceased boy,” Commander Fryer said last night.

“We’ve had an absolute tragedy here tonight.

“It’s a horrific scene.”

media_camera Commander Doug Fryer talks to the media at the scene last night. Picture: Jay Town

Speaking this morning, Commander Fryer said it had been a “shocking time” for the boy’s family, the witnesses at the scene and the officers involved.

“Our members were confronted by an incident that thankfully, it’s very rare when it happens, but when it does, they put their training into practice,” Commander Fryer told 3AW.

“They used an option that they thought appropriate and unfortunately we’ve not got two people dead.”

Commander Fryer said the boy’s mother, who was estranged from his father, was “in close proximity to where this happened”.

media_camera The man is flown by air ambulance to The Alfred.

“I don’t know how a mother gets past losing her son in these sorts of ways,” he said.

Children were at the ground for cricket training and Commander Fryer said police wanted to speak to anyone who witnessed the incident.

“We spoke to a lot of people last night,” he said.

“Because cricket practice had just finished, we think there were probably kids down there and parents down there that may have seen something who we haven’t yet spoken to.

media_camera Police tape at the oval this morning. Picture: Nicole Garmston.

Emergency services were called to Tyabb Cricket Ground on Frankston-Flinders Rd in Tyabb about 6.30pm yesterday following the vicious attack.

Paramedics frantically tried to revive the boy, but he died at the scene from head injuries.

Witnesses told the Herald Sun when officers from Mornington police station arrived, the father turned on them with a knife, forcing them to shoot him.

The man was flown to The Alfred hospital, where he later died.

The incident shocked the local community, with one resident describing it as “bloody horrific”.

media_camera The incident was witnessed by many young children and their families. Picture: Gary Sissons / Mornington Peninsula News Group

Tyabb Cricket Club officials would not comment about the incident last night, saying it was “too raw”.

But the club’s junior cricket co-ordinator, Ron Dyall, said the boy — in grade 6 at Flinders Christian Community College — had played for the club for two or three years and was also an avid footballer.

Mr Dyall said he was devastated by what had happened.

“As his coach, I knew him pretty well,” he said.

“My own son plays in his team. I’m trying to figure out how to break it to him, and how we’re gonna deal with the kids.”

media_camera Police at the oval last night.

Local Wayne Murray, 64, said he heard what he thought was fireworks about the time of the shooting.

He said “a shiver (ran) down my spine” when he learned the sounds were gunshots.

“I heard a couple of pop pops,” he said.

“It didn’t sound unusually loud. I’ve never seen anything like this. It doesn’t happen here.”

Melissa, 37, who did not wish to give her surname, said her father had also heard gunshots.

“We heard helicopters going over the oval,” she said. “I have an 11-year-old. I was nearly in tears when I heard.”

media_camera Investigators at the scene last night.

Commander Fryer said four local officers were confronted by the knife-wielding man when they arrived about 6.40pm.

“They’ve attempted to use less than lethal force (OC foam). They’ve attempted to talk him down. That has been unsuccessful,” he said.

“They have then discharged a firearm, hitting that male once in the chest.”

media_camera The reserve in Tyabb where the horrific incident happened.

Commander Fryer said police were still working to ­determine what caused the local boy’s death.

He could not confirm reports the boy was being beaten by his father with a cricket bat when police ­arrived, but said he suffered “significant injuries”.

media_camera Police at the scene. Picture: Jay Town

media_camera SES crews

media_camera The air ambulance at the reserve last night. Picture: Gary Sissons, Mornington Peninsula News Group

media_camera Officers spoke to many witnesses. Picture: Jay Town

Originally published as Dad shot after boy dies in knife attack