'He had a big heart': Tributes flow for stepfather stabbed to death before police shooting
Tributes are flowing for a stepfather who was stabbed to death outside his home in Melbourne this morning.
Emergency services were called to a home in Hillside, north of Caroline Springs, just before 7am with reports a person had been stabbed.
When police arrived they found 61-year-old Tony Di Falco with critical injuries on the front lawn of the Chris Court property.
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Tony Di Falco, 61, was remembered by family as a funny, kind soul. Nine
Officers attempted CPR but the 61-year-old died at the scene.
Police said they then heard a scream from inside the home, where they were confronted by a man with a knife.
After attempting to negotiate with him to drop the knife, the man threatened police, leading them to fire a shot.
The man then allegedly ran onto the street, slashing the tyre of a police car before officers fired several more shots after further negotiations with him failed.
There were emotional scenes at the Hillside home as family gathered following news of the stabbing. Nine
The 32-year-old man was taken to Royal Melbourne Hospital under police guard in a critical but stable condition, with lower body injuries.
It's understood a heavily pregnant woman, believed to be the sister of the alleged offender, called triple zero when he turned up unannounced at the Hillside home and an altercation unfolded between the two males.
9News also understands the alleged offender was also the stepson of the deceased man and multiple intervention orders were in place against him.
He is known to police and is understood to have a history of mental illness.
The pregnant female, aged 27, was taken to hospital for observation as a precaution.
Di Falco was remembered by his brother and sister as a funny, kind soul.
"Tony always thought about his family... you know, he had a big heart," brother Nick Di Falco told 9News.
"As a brother, he was the clown of the family. He always had jokes... made everybody laugh," his sister said.
It's understood Di Falco had just beaten cancer and was looking forward to a brighter future before his life was cut short.
Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).
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