Communities across the state, including Port Macquarie, have been shocked at the callous murder of police officer and family man David Rixon.
The 40-year-old highway patrol officer sustained a number of gunshot wounds during a routine traffic stop outside a block of flats in Lorraine Street, West Tamworth, just before 8am on Friday.
The events leading up to the shooting of Senior Constable Rixon are unclear but it seems he had pulled over a car with two male occupants. At some point he was allegedly shot by the owner and driver of the vehicle, 47-year-old Michael Alan Jacobs. Senior Constable Rixon seems to have been able to return fire and cuff the other man before collapsing.
Police from Oxley Local Area Command and NSW Ambulance Paramedics immediately responded to the incident and located the officer and Mr Jacobs.
Both were treated at the scene before being taken to Tamworth Base Hospital. Senior Constable Rixon died a short time later.
Mr Jacobs was flown to John Hunter Hospital on Friday night and remains in a critical condition.
A 38-year-old man, who was arrested a short time after the incident, was questioned by police overnight and has been released without charge pending further investigation.
Detectives will endeavour to speak with the injured man once he is deemed well enough by medical authorities.
Strike Force Fairfull has been established to investigate the death, lead by detectives attached to State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad and Western Region.
Commander of the Homicide Squad, Detective Superintendent Mick Willing, said police are keen to speak with anyone who has information about events prior to the shooting, especially regarding the movements of the vehicle, owned by Mr Jacobs.
“A 1996-model white Holden Statesmen sedan was taken from the crime scene for forensic examination,” Det Supt Willing said, “That vehicle has NSW registration BZY 65L.”
Oxley Local Area Commander, Superintendent Clint Pheeney, has paid tribute to Senior Constable Rixon, describing him as one of the most professional officers within his command.
“David served in the country for most of his life,” Supt Pheeney said. “He was a dedicated police officer who was loved by the community as well as his friends and colleagues.”
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
