Helen Russell was at home in Walgett, in northern NSW, when she found out her son Stanley had been shot dead by police.
She saw her sister's house on the television news.
"That's how I got the message," she says.
"I knew it was Stanley. They killed him.
"We just all cuddled one another and were just crying."
Gomeroi man Stanley Russell was fatally shot by police at his aunt's house in Seven Hills, in Sydney's north west, a week ago. Source: Supplied
Second tragedy
It's the second time she's felt such tragedy.
Her eldest son Eddie died in Long Bay prison 22 years ago.
"He went to Long Bay and he didn't come home," she says.
"It's happened again with the police, with Stanley. I only had two boys and I lost them."
She called for an independent inquiry.
"We’ve already been to hell and back, during the investigation into Edward’s very avoidable death in custody," she says.
"Now we have to go through the same pain and trauma again because police failed in their duty of care to Stanley."
Police said they originally went to the home in Bulah Way, Seven Hills to try and find a man in relation to an outstanding warrant. Source: Supplied
Many unanswered questions
It's been a week since police shot the Gomeroi man at his aunty's home in Seven Hills, in Sydney's north west.
The family are no closer to answers about why, or what happened.
Pam Saha said her nephew had been staying with her.
She answered the door and told police he wasn't home. She says they heard a cough, and pushed her aside.
"They ran straight in my house," she says.
"They didn't tell me their name, nothing.
"As soon as I got to the mailbox, that's when I heard a gunshot."
Pam Saha says she heard four or five shots in total.
Stanley Russell's aunt says when she returned to her house after police shot her nephew, she found it riddled with bullet holes. Source: NITV The Point
House riddled by bullets
Police said officers from the Blacktown Police Area Command attended the home to make inquiries to find a man wanted on an outstanding warrant.
They allege the man was armed with a knife and axe, and the man was shot after a physical confrontation.
The family disputes this, and wants an independent investigation, and a second autopsy.
When Pam Saha was allowed back into her house, she found bullet holes throughout.
"You can see the bullet holes, " she says.
"I come down here every morning and look at the holes and start crying."
Despite the trauma, she doesn't want to leave the house she's called home for 17 years.
A critical incident investigation is underway, and will be independently monitored.
But Stanley's parents, now grieving two sons, have little faith in the process.
"I want to know why did the police go in and shoot my son, not taser him or capsicum spray him," his mother Helen Russell says.
"When my son is in trouble, he would have sung out Aunty Pammy, ring mum, the police are here.
"But he never had a chance. They shot him in the chest, and I need the police (to be) accountable for it."
