Police are keeping an open mind on whether the bullet that killed trainee detective Will Crews came from the gun of a civilian or a police officer, New South Wales Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione says.
The 26-year-old died in a Sydney hospital after he was shot while carrying out a drug operation on Wednesday night with seven other officers from the Middle Eastern Organised Crime Squad in Bankstown, in Sydney's southwest.
The officers were fired upon outside the targeted property on Cairds Avenue about 9pm (AEST) and Constable Crews was hit in the head and neck.
A 55-year-old man, Philip Nguyen, has since been charged with shooting with intent to murder and discharging a firearm with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
Geehad Ghazi, 27, has been charged with possession of an unauthorised firearm.
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No-one has been charged with murder, raising speculation as to whether the bullet that killed Constable Crews came from the gun of a civilian or a police officer.
Mr Scipione said it was too soon for police to draw conclusions at this stage.
"We're still keeping an open mind, certainly the investigation, the critical investigation, continues to seek answers to a raft of questions over the shooting death of Constable Crews," Mr Scipione told Fairfax Radio on Friday morning.
"That investigation will take a little while. We are not going to jump to any conclusions. We just need to let the process take its course."
Asked if he would back a push by Opposition Leader Barry O'Farrell for mandatory life sentencing for police killers, Mr Scipione refrained from voicing his opinion.
"At this stage we haven't charged anyone with murdering Will," he said.
"We will just have to wait and see where that goes.
"Outside of that ... there is a body of evidence that suggests that people might not be convicted if there is no room for a jury to move when it comes to mandatory sentencing, but likewise, within the police force there are two views here.
"That's really a matter that needs to be dealt with at the political level.
"In the meantime, we are just going to get on with our job, and that's putting people before the courts when they are out there committing crimes."
