The man shot dead by a senior officer at a Sydney police station has been described as a “placid peaceful giant” as family and friends pay tribute to the New Zealand-born father.

On Tuesday morning the man, named by media organisations as David Petersen, walked into Quakers Hills police station allegedly armed with a kitchen knife and started threatening officers.

A sergeant with 24 years’ experience fired a single, fatal shot following a short confrontation.

Mr Petersen, who was aged in his 40s, lived nearby and had at least two daughters.

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In his LinkedIn profile, Mr Petersen wrote he had worked as a scaffolder in Sydney for the past eight months and his interests were the gym and sports.

“I am a person who gets along with other team members, hard working, always prepared for any unexpected obstacles that may approach me or my team members and always willing to learn more on the job,” he wrote.

He attended high school in Auckland where he played rugby and volleyball as well as being part of a Pacific Island dance group.

Police on Wednesday were reportedly searching the man’s Highfield Road residence less than a kilometre from the station, as the critical investigation continues.

A 12-year-old boy and several other officers were inside the foyer when Mr Petersen entered, allegedly threatening the officers.

Family members, including his brother and nephew, have taken to Facebook to pay tribute to him.

“I am so going to miss you David so so much. I’m lost for words my dearest friend and brother in life. You were always my hero,” his brother Alex wrote.

The man’s nephew said Mr Petersen was his “second father”, and his “inspiration and saviour”.

“You were always there to talk to and you never judged me, you were my second father,” AJ Martin Petersen wrote on Facebook.

He said he would watch over Mr Petersen’s girls “till my last breath”.

Friend Danni described the family man on Facebook as “a placid peaceful giant”.

Police said Mr Petersen’s motive for entering the police station armed remains unclear.

Quakers Hill police station will remain closed while investigations continue.