Six months after the NSW government announced all frontline police would carry stun guns, an officer equipped with a Taser still selected her firearm and shot a man who later died.
The decision of that female officer, a sergeant with more than 21 years' service with NSW Police, will now be the subject of an extensive investigation.
Emergency crews were called to a home in Wangee Road, Lakemba, in southwest Sydney, about 8.50am (AEDT) on Wednesday following reports of a man harming himself.
"Upon arrival with the ambulance, police located a male suffering stab wounds in the kitchen of the house," assistant commissioner Stuart Wilkins told reporters at the scene.
"Paramedics had attempted to assist that person. During this time the male, who has got up from a lying position, we believe has grabbed a knife from the kitchen and confronted police.
"During that confrontation that male has been shot, once, by police ... a further struggle has ensued, the male has committed self-harm again, police have wrestled the knife from that male person."
Adam Salter, 36, was rushed to Canterbury Hospital but died a short time later.
Police said the shot hit Mr Salter in the right shoulder.
His 65-year-old father, the only other resident of the premises, was not injured in the incident but was taken to hospital suffering shock.
Mr Wilkins said it was yet to be determined if Mr Salter died from the gunshot or self-inflicted stab wounds.
But he did say the officer who fired the shot was in possession of a Taser.
"The officer, the sergeant, involved was armed with a Taser at the time and is Taser trained," he said.
In June this year Police Minister Michael Daley said every frontline officer would be issued with a stun gun and trained in its use.
The commitment means that by the end of next year, 1,962 Tasers will be in use across the state.
That rollout was announced despite conflicting medical and scientific opinions about the use of stun guns.
"I'm not here to speculate on the use of Tasers or whether or not that was the appropriate use at that time," Mr Wilkins said in relation to Wednesday's shooting.
"Tasers are just one option available to us. We have a number of options available."
He refused to give details of the shooting, saying it was a matter for an independent police team to investigate.
A next-door neighbour, who did not want to be identified, said she heard the shot and was shocked to hear Mr Salter was dead.
"Adam is a very good boy ... very nice, no drugs, no alcohol, no trouble," she told reporters by phone.
Police came in for criticism in June, before the rollout of Tasers, for the shooting of Elijah Holcombe, 24, at Armidale in northern NSW.
Mr Holcombe was suffering from mental health issues when he allegedly threatened a police officer with a knife before being shot dead.
Police declined to comment on the mental state of Mr Salter.
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