An estranged father who killed his 11-year-old son in front of shocked children and parents after cricket practice has died after he was shot by Victoria police.

Police were called to the Tyabb cricket oval on the Mornington Peninsula on Wednesday evening after the boy was critically injured. The boy died at the scene.

Police say the man came at officers with a knife after they were called to the scene in Tyabb, near Hastings, about 6.30pm (AEDT).

His father, who was armed with a knife, was shot once by police after capsicum spray failed to subdue him. He died in the Alfred Hospital at 1.30am (AEDT) on Thursday.

Commander Doug Fryer said four officers used capsicum spray in an attempt to subdue the man before the shot was fired.

“We’ve had an absolute tragedy here tonight,” Commander Fryer said from the scene. “It’s a horrific scene.”

Witnesses leaving #Tyabb scene decline comment, instructed by police not to talk to media. @7NewsMelbourne pic.twitter.com/wmm7zEqbCr

— Dean Felton (@DeanFelton7) February 12, 2014

“I can’t go into the details on what the injuries were for the young boy, but (they were) significant injuries.

“Forensic examination has been done at the scene and we’re just putting the pieces together still.”

Young children are among the witnesses police are speaking to after violence interrupted their evening cricket training.

The mother of the boy was in the vicinity at the time. She is said to be in shock.

“I said last night I don’t know how a mother gets past losing a son in these sorts of ways,” he said. “But she had friends there to support her and she is certainly assisting police.”

“What she saw and the offence that unfolded will play out in the Coroners Court sometime to come.”

Commander Fryer said police acted in accordance with their training. “It was certainly a dynamic situation, they were confronted with a critical incident and they used the options they thought best.”

The boy was in year six at Flinders Christian College.

Executive principal Jill Healey said the school was bringing in extra counsellors and chaplains to support students.

Many local schools and churches were helping as well.

“We are well prepared today for caring for the grief that will obviously be in the school community,” she told Fairfax radio.

Commander Fryer said a number of people were present when the incident occurred and he urged anybody who hadn’t spoken to police to contact Crime Stoppers.
He said inquiries were still being made in relation to the exact cause of death of the boy, who he confirmed was a local.

An Ambulance Victoria spokeswoman earlier told AAP paramedics had treated the boy for head injuries and that the man had been flown to the hospital with serious chest injuries.

Commended Fryer said a single shot was fired into his chest after he ignored police attempts to get him to put down his knife.