Coronial inquest into Glen Innes police shooting in 2019 hears evidence from witnesses at the scene

The inquest - being held in Tamworth Coroner's Court - is examining the events that unfolded at the scene in Glen Innes on the night of the shooting on January 18, 2019.

A man, aged in his 70s, died in the course of the police operation, while Sergeant Mark Johnston and Leading Senior Constable Helen McMurtrie were seriously injured after they were struck by a shot that ricocheted off the ground when a rifle was fired.

Counsel assisting the coroner as well as legal representatives for the parties involved including police, the family, and the officers, are set to deliver their closing submissions to Deputy State Coroner Elizabeth Ryan on Thursday after the last witness.

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On Wednesday, the inquest heard from witnesses at the scene of the shooting and in the street.

Much of the evidence heard in court, as well as the nature of the call-out, the events of the night and the location, cannot be reported for legal reasons.

One witness described the man at the house when she approached the yard. The witness conceded she ignored a police direction from an officer at the scene not to approach the house.

"I thought maybe he'd listen to me ... so I thought, 'nup, I'm going to go and talk to him," she told the inquest.

She described the man's demeanour and reaction, and detailed what he said to her.

"He was holding onto something ... I knew it was a gun, a rifle," she told the inquest.

She detailed how she didn't tell police about the gun at the scene.

"I think I was upset with police and didn't want to talk to them," she said. "I felt the police didn't want anything to do with me."

She described the events that unfolded and when police went to the property - but much cannot be reported for legal reasons.

"It just all happened so fast," she said, telling the inquest she heard a gunshot and then another witness say 'oh my god, one of the policemen's been shot".

The inquest continues.