A man shot dead by police in rural South Australia after a five-hour siege was firing at officers with a shotgun, police say.
The 50-year-man was shot in the chest by a special tasks officer at an isolated property off a dirt road at Elwomple, near Tailem Bend, shortly before midnight on Wednesday.
Police were called to the man's home on Elwomple Road at about 7pm because he was allegedly making threats over the phone to kill several people.
When he refused to co-operate or come out of his house, negotiators and a helicopter were called in to assist.
"We spent about five hours trying to negotiate with the man, who was highly agitated," Assistant Commissioner Bronwyn Killmier told reporters in Adelaide on Thursday.
She said the man fired a shotgun near police over several hours.
He allegedly shot at an officer while outside the house and the officer returned fire, fatally wounding the man in the chest and arm.
Ms Killmier said the dark, isolated siege highlights the dangerous and difficult work police do.
"It's not really like the movies when you can shoot somebody, wound them and stop them all the time," she said.
"The officer was being fired upon, there were numerous shots fired.
"It's a tragic set of circumstances.
"We attend thousands of mental health incidents every year and our aim is to resolve them peacefully."
Ms Killmier said officers would be offered counselling.
No police were injured and a report will be prepared for the coroner.
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