A fugitive gunman has been shot dead by police, ending a dramatic three-day manhunt across regional Victoria.
Stanley Turvey was armed with a weapon when he confronted officers at a house in Ardmona near Shepparton on Wednesday morning, police said.
Special Operations Group shot him and first aid was provided before paramedics declared him dead at the scene.
Detectives from the Homicide Squad will investigate the incident with oversight from Professional Standards Command.
Turvey's death has been referred to the coroner.
"Police were presented with a threat and, as a result of that, have taken some action," Acting Assistant Commissioner Karen Nyholm told reporters.
"We wanted to take him into safe custody but it's fair to say we needed to do what it is to protect the public, protect ourselves in that situation."
The manhunt across Victoria was sparked by an attempted arrest at a property in Katandra West on Monday.
Turvey allegedly fired a shot into the air as police tried to arrest him and then fled in a car.
Police initiated a pursuit but their car lost control and rolled on a country road, leaving two officers with minor injuries.
Turvey stopped at a random home in the nearby town of Youanmite, forced a man to drive him to Finley across the NSW border and released him.
Turvey was believed to be travelling in a stolen white Toyota utility on Tuesday after he allegedly assaulted a woman and stole the vehicle at Yarrawonga.
Additional police from Melbourne and NSW were deployed to northwest Victoria to track down Turvey.
Police were in contact with his family and associates in the lead-up to his death but Ms Nyholm could not say what led officers to the Ardmona house.
"It's fair to say that we had an indication that potentially that was one location where we might find him," she said.
Victoria Police would turn its focus to supporting Turvey's victims and the officers involved in the manhunt, Ms Nyholm said.
