NT health officials defend decision to leave Yuendumu hours before police shooting

Northern Territory health officials have defended their decision to leave the community of Yuendumu in the hours before the police shooting of 19-year-old Warlpiri man Kumanjayi Walker, who died after being shot by police in a home in Yuendumu on Saturday night.

They claim health staff “raised safety concerns” on Saturday morning after a period of “community unrest”, and they were given clearance to leave for Alice Springs.

“Staff safety is paramount,” the NT health department spokesperson said. “After liaising with police, Yuendumu Health Centre staff were supported to leave the community on Saturday afternoon, as did staff from other government and non-government services.”

Related: Yuendumu police shooting: Indigenous groups demand inquiry into Kumanjayi Walker's death

Any emergencies were to be covered by health staff at Yuelamu, about an hours’ drive east of the town.

Kumanjayi Walker was shot by police as they attempted to arrest him at a family home on Saturday evening. He was taken to the police station where he later died of his injuries.

The Medical Retrieval and Consultation Care Centre, which handles all medical emergencies across central Australia, provided clinical advice to police at the time, but did not immediately call for an airlift.

When staff from Yuelamu Health Centre arrived that evening, they pronounced Walker deceased.

Walker is the second Aboriginal person to die after being shot by police in the past two months.

In September, 29-year-old Yamatji woman Joyce Clarke was shot outside a house in the Geraldton suburb of Kaloo and died soon after in hospital.

“We need national leadership on this injustice. Police violence is killing our people and must end,” said Cheryl Axleby, co-chair of the National Aboriginal and Islander Legal Service (Natsils).

Natsils has questioned the standard of medical care Walker received.

“Reportedly police and medical staff received treatment on the night in Alice Springs,” Axelby said. “Community members have shared concerns with us about the adequacy of Kumanjayi’s medical treatment, including his evacuation for critical medical care.

“They deserve answers about whether Kumanjayi Walker was afforded the same quality of medical care,” said Axleby.

“Police must not investigate police. We call for the police officers involved to be immediately suspended pending an independent investigation,” she said.

The NT police would not confirm whether or not the police officers involved in the shooting were still on duty but said they are no longer in the community.

“We acknowledge the Yuendumu and Warlpiri community’s grief and the broader interest in the investigation into the shooting of a 19-year-old man by Northern Territory police on Saturday night,” an NT police spokesman said.

“There is a lot of public commentary especially on social media which could influence witnesses and not allow the investigation to run its full course.”

The police investigation is being overseen by senior Western Australian police officer and current NT police assistant commissioner Nick Anticich, with oversight from the NT ombudsman and the NT Icac.