A man shot dead by a senior officer at a Sydney police station has been formally identified as New Zealand father David Petersen.
The 45-year-old was killed after he walked into Quakers Hill police station and allegedly began threatening officers, armed with a large kitchen knife.
A sergeant with 24 years' experience fired a single, fatal shot following a short confrontation.
Police on Wednesday formally identified Mr Petersen and urged anyone who may have seen or spoken to him in the days before the fatal shooting to come forward.
Mr Petersen lived near the police station and had at least two daughters.
In his LinkedIn profile he wrote that he had worked as a scaffolder in Sydney for the past eight months and his interests were the gym and sports.
"I am a person who gets along with other team members, hard working, always prepared for any unexpected obstacles that may approach me or my team members & always willing to learn more on the job," he wrote.
He attended high school in Auckland where he played rugby and volleyball as well as being part of a Pacific Island dance group.
Family members, including his brother and nephew, took to Facebook to pay tribute to him.
"I am so going to miss you David so so much. I'm lost for words my dearest friend and brother in life. You were always my hero," his brother Alex wrote.
Mr Petersen's nephew said he was his "second father", and his "inspiration and saviour".
"You were always there to talk to and you never judged me, you were my second father," AJ Martin Petersen wrote on Facebook.
He said he would watch over Mr Petersen's girls "till my last breath".
Friend Danni described the family man on Facebook as "a placid peaceful giant".
Police said Mr Petersen's motive for entering the police station armed remains unclear.
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