Manhunt for armed man ends at a rural property

By Monique Preston

Sep 20, 2023

Road block: The area outside the Turnbull Rd property was blocked by police.

A three-day police hunt for an armed man across two states ended in a confrontation at an Ardmona property on Wednesday, September 20.

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Stanley Turvey, 33, had been on the run from police for three days before he was shot at a rural property about 10.15am.

Acting on information Mr Turvey was at a Turnbull Rd property, Victoria Police’s Special Operations Group attended the property.

Eastern Region Acting Assistant Commissioner Karen Nyholm said Mr Turvey approached police with a firearm.

“Police were presented with a threat and have taken action,” Act Asst Comm Nyholm said of police shooting Mr Turvey.

Search: Stanley Turvey led police on a three-day manhunt that spanned three days and two states. Photo by Seach, Melissa

First-aid was provided and paramedics declared him deceased at the scene.

Police have revealed one other person was at the Ardmona property at the time of the shooting, but did not say what their association was with Mr Turvey.

Ardmona residents and those in the area reported the police helicopter was active around the area about 10am.

Day’s events: Eastern Region Acting Assistant Commissioner Karen Nyholm address the media after the end of the manhunt for Stanley Turvey. Photo: Rechelle Zammit Photo by Rechelle Zammit

One resident at Ardmona Caravan Park said he heard a gunshot but had not paid much attention to it as gunshots were common as orchards surrounded the area and they were used to scare birds.

However, he did say it sounded different to the normal shots he heard, but did not know where it came from.

“I didn’t realise it was that close,” he said.

Turnbull Rd remained blocked for several hours as police remained at the scene.

Mr Turvey’s shooting ended a manhunt that started on Monday, September 18, and spanned northern and north-eastern Victoria and southern NSW and involved pursuits, a police car rollover, the taking of a hostage at gunpoint and car thefts.

At every stage, until the end, Mr Turvey seemed to be just ahead of the police.

Act Asst Comm Nyholm said police from both the Shepparton and Wangaratta police commands had been involved in the search for Mr Turvey, as well as police from Melbourne, including those from the Special Operations Group.

“From the time of the police notification of a sighting, to when police got there — that minute or two is all that it takes (from him to get away),” Act Asst Comm Nyholm said.

She said Mr Turvey’s death was not the way police had wanted the hunt to end, instead hoping it would end with police arresting him.

“With the risk of his conduct and behaviour and violent offending, it was important we took him into custody,” she said.

“This is not the outcome we wanted … (but) we have to do what we have to do to protect the public and ourselves.”

Where it happened: The scene where gunman Stanley Turvey was shot dead by police at Ardmona. Photo by Monique Preston

Act Asst Comm Nyholm acknowledged the impact the death of Mr Turvey would have on his family and said police would help them with support if wanted.

“They lost a loved one,” she said.

She also said police would focus on supporting the victims of all the incidents involving Mr Turvey and ensure they had all the support they needed.

Throughout the three days, police called on the public for help to locate Mr Turvey, and Act Asst Comm Nyholm also thanked the public for their calls throughout the investigation.

Homicide Squad detectives will investigate the shooting with oversight by the Professional Standards Command, as per standard procedure.

The State Coroner has also been notified of Mr Turvey’s death.