Alleged knife-wielding attacker was shot before stabbing officer, police say

Alleged knife-wielding attacker was shot before stabbing officer at Elizabeth East, police commissioner saysPosted Thu 30 Jul 2026 at 1:43pmThu 30 Jul 2026 at 1:43pm, updated Thu 30 Jul 2026 at 2:21pmThu 30 Jul 2026 at 2:21pmThe incident at Elizabeth East on Wednesday prompted a major police response. (ABC News: Lincoln Rothall)In short:SA Police Commissioner Grant Stevens says a man was allegedly shot by police first before he stabbed an officer in the neck at Elizabeth East yesterday.He has praised the injured police officer and her partner's response in what was a "highly volatile and highly dangerous" incidentWhat's next?The incident is now the subject of a Major Crime investigation and a Police Commissioner's Inquiry.A man was allegedly shot in the leg by police before continuing to charge forward and stab a female officer in the neck in Adelaide's north yesterday, South Australia's Police Commissioner says.The incident unfolded at about 11am on Wednesday, when police responded to reports of a male armed with a large knife running onto Main North Road at Elizabeth East.Police Commissioner Grant Stevens revealed more details about the "highly volatile and highly dangerous" incident on 891 ABC Adelaide this morning.He said the 27-year-old man allegedly "rushed at police with a large knife" and "as a result of that he was shot" by a male officer."But he [the alleged attacker] continued, moved past one police officer and managed to stab a senior constable in the neck," Commissioner Stevens said."As unlucky as Jessie is having being stabbed, she's incredibly fortunate there's no serious injury or ongoing concerns in relation to that wound, and we're hopeful she'll be released from hospital today."Emergency services at the scene of the incident at Elizabeth East on Wednesday. (ABC News: Lincoln Rothall)The commissioner praised Jessie and her police partner for showing "significant courage and professionalism" during yesterday's incident."It's always very confronting when those situations actually unfold in front of you and you have to make split second decisions, that you go to protecting members of the public as well as the people you're working alongside as a police officer," he said.Investigations underwayThe alleged attacker from Woodville Gardens was also taken to hospital but police said his injuries were not considered life-threatening.Commissioner Stevens said they were expected to charge the man "in the near future".Grant Stevens says the two officers showed courage in yesterday's incident. (ABC News)He said the matter was now the subject of a Police Commissioner's Inquiry and a senior officer would be allocated to examine the circumstances of the incident.The commissioner said Major Crime Investigation Branch would also investigate the incident."Obviously we'll reveal all of our practices and procedures to make sure — not to suggest anything has been done incorrectly — but these are the opportunities we have to verify training and our protocols are right and that we're doing everything we can to ensure police officers can do their job safely," he said.Police are investigating the circumstances of the incident. (ABC News: Lincoln Rothall)Police Association of South Australia's Wade Burns told 891 ABC Adelaide support would be given to Jessie and the officers involved in the incident."Yesterday's incident is really just a horrifying reminder of the levels of extreme violence that frontline police face in their daily duty," he said."You begin your shift healthy not knowing what to expect and seconds later you're facing injuries that can potentially change the rest of your life."The police union president said he would be paying attention to the outcome of the incident."We want to see custodial sentences that are really just in line with the community expectations and we'll certainly be watching the outcome on this matter," Mr Burns said.