MOLAYEE, Omid

43y · Male·Gunshot wounds to the chest, with other significant conditions noted as thermal injuries

Omid Molayee, a 43-year-old Iranian-born Australian resident, died from gunshot wounds to the chest on 6 April 2020 after a domestic violence incident escalated into a confrontation with police. Following an argument with his partner, he doused himself and her with petrol and made threats of self-immolation. After fleeing and parking in a restaurant carpark, he poured fuel over himself and ignited it when police arrived. He then ran at police officers while engulfed in flames. Officers deployed less-lethal force ineffectively; when he continued advancing, one officer discharged four lethal rounds. The coroner found police actions appropriate and compliant with policy. Key learning points included: earlier intervention in the domestic violence situation might have altered the outcome; command structure deficiencies were identified but officers acted under extreme time pressure; and enhanced training on self-immolation incidents and officer welfare support were recommended.