Astonishing video shows knifeman casually shrugging off beanbag rounds as he throws tiles and a ladder at cops during wild rooftop standoff - while man bleeds to death inside
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- READ MORE: One man dead and another in custody after a tense rooftop stand-off with police in Tamworth
Confronting footage has emerged of a tense standoff between police and a knife-wielding man on the roof of a house.
The incident came as another man's body was found inside the Tamworth home in north-east NSW, prompting the launch of a murder investigation.
Peter Douglas Neilson, 55, is accused of stabbing friend Richard Garland, 47, in the head before the standoff on Saturday afternoon.
Police officers swarmed Mr Garland's Goonoo Goonoo Road property at about 4.30pm.
He was found inside the home with critical head injuries and was rushed to Tamworth Hospital, where he later died.
After initially locking himself inside a bedroom, Neilson emerged on the roof barefoot, wielding a knife.
At one point, he ran across the roof to push away a ladder tactical officers were using to try to get to him.
He also threw roof tiles at the officers trying to apprehend him, who in turn used Tasers and fired beanbag rounds.
Shocking footage has emerged of a tense stand-off between police and Peter Nielsen wielding a knife (pictured) on the roof of a Tamworth home on Saturday afternoon
Richard Garland (pictured) was allegedly stabbed to death in a home in Tamworth
Feathers could be seen exploding from Neilson's puffer jacket.
Shocked neighbours spent the afternoon watching the terrifying scenes unfold from the safety of their backyards and behind police tape, as the man refused to come down.
Moving onto the roof, negotiators tried to talk Neilson into climbing down, but as they moved closer, he allegedly tried to flee and instead fell to the ground, where he was disarmed and arrested.
The standoff ended when he fell from the roof, after a policeman armed with a Taser and a riot shield rushed at him.
Neilson was treated at the scene by paramedics for self-inflicted stab wounds and was initially taken to Tamworth Hospital.
He was later airlifted to John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle under police guard where he remains.
No charges have yet been laid.
Detective Inspector Tom Aylett revealed that Neilson will be charged in the coming days once his condition improves.
Peter Neilsen, 55, is accused of stabbing Richard Garland, 47, in the head before the stand-off on Saturday afternoon. Neilsen is pictured on the stretcher
'(Police) secured the arrest of a male that we're going to allege was involved in the murder of someone else,' Det Insp Aylett said on Sunday.
He added that Neilson and Garland had been 'friends' for a number of years.
Police are looking into various motives, including whether drugs were involved and have located the weapon they allege was used in the confrontation.
'That's certainly something we'll look at, different lines of inquiry around history, relationships and a number of factors that was the motive behind it,' Det Insp Aylett said.
'They're friends... we understand that they were known to each other for a number of years.
'There's no domestic relationship, they were just simply acquaintances that were known to each other.'
After initially locking himself inside a bedroom, Nielsen (pictured) then emerged on the roof, wielding a knife
Tactical officers are pictured using a ladder to get onto a roof to try to get Neilsen down
Det Insp Aylett defended the use of non-lethal weapons, including a Taser and beanbag rounds, to coax the man down when he began wounding himself before he fell.
'They were utilised, along with police negotiators and other methods to try and get that male to come down,' he said.
'We have an obligation to protect life and property, including his own (and once) he started self-harming with a weapon, we had to take appropriate action to make sure he was put into custody.'
The street remained shut down on Sunday as forensics and homicide detectives took over the investigation.
Floral tributes have been laid at the scene in Mr Garland's memory.
Detectives from the State Crime Command's Homicide Squad are assisting local police in the investigation.
