A 19-year-old Indigenous man was shot at six times after allegedly threatening officers with a spear during an incident near Darwin, Northern Territory police say.
The man remains in a critical condition in hospital but police said his condition had improved since yesterday.
In an update provided on Wednesday afternoon, Assistant Commissioner Michael White gave more details of the police account, that took place in the Palmerston suburb of Gray at around 9am on Tuesday.
He said one officer fired six shots at the man, while another had deployed their Taser.
"The information that's been provided to police and clearly confirmed now is that the person who was shot was armed with a spear and was attempting to throw that at the police officers at the time of the shooting," he said.
"Obviously that will form part of the [critical incident investigation] more broadly.
"But it is evident that at that time the officers were in danger and they exercised their decision to use lethal force."
He said it was not clear if the man was struck by all six shots.
Police only revealed the man's age this afternoon, after saying late yesterday that the report by health authorities that he is 32 was incorrect.
Yesterday, they said officers had been called to the same location prior to the shooting to respond to a domestic violence incident but it was unclear if the two incidents were linked.
Commissioner White today said police had still not established whether the two incidents were connected, and their investigation was ongoing.
"From a response perspective, there [are] at least 45 detectives working on this investigation... continuing to door knock, examining the scene through forensic analysis and ballistic experts who are on the scene today," he said.
An internal critical incident investigation has been launched into the use of force by officers.
Commissioner White said support was being provided to all officers present at the incident, who were "shaken up" but otherwise well.
Police investigation continuing on Wednesday
Roads remained closed around the scene of the shooting in Gray on Tuesday night, and this morning the area remained cordoned off and the crime scene active.
Neighbours yesterday told the ABC they had heard the sound of multiple gunshots.
Bradley Nichaloff said he arrived at his mum's house in Gray shortly after the incident.
Mr Nichaloff said he knew the man who had been shot and said people in the area were upset about what happened.
"He was a harmless little boy, he's not a violent person or anything," he said.
"Everyone knows him, he hangs with us."
