Adam Balzan awoke to the sounds of bangs and crashes as plain-clothes police chased his 20-year-old son into their western Sydney home and shot him dead in 2020.
A coroner on Thursday found the police officers' decisions to detain, pursue and use force against Bradley Balzan were unjustified and unreasonable.
While the report has offered some answers, it could not address the myriad impacts that have flowed from his death, prompting the father to take NSW Police to court.
"I can only begin to imagine how grief struck they are," his lawyer Peter O'Brien said on Friday.
"This young man was a beautiful young boy who had extensive love for his family.
"Their grief will continue and be immeasurable."
On December 23, 2020, four officers were patrolling the area in an unmarked police car when they saw 20-year-old Bradley, about 200 metres from his home in St Marys.
They got out of their car and spoke with Mr Balzan when a senior constable grabbed his left arm.
The young man twisted out of his grip and ran to his home as two officers followed.
Police then pepper sprayed Mr Balzan and a struggle ensued.
An initial cluster of three shots were fired before the senior constable shot Mr Balzan twice, in the chest and abdomen.
When his father heard the commotion, he tried to head out to his backyard but was blocked by a plain-clothes officer with a gun.
While Coroner Teresa O'Sullivan accepted the police did not know if the man had any connection to the residence, Mr Bradley had "every right to walk away from police when he did".
"Bradley had not directly threatened any officer," she wrote in her findings.
"He was making a pointed attempt at walking away from the officers and had his back towards (the senior constable) when the latter grabbed his arm."
"Had Bradley been allowed to walk away, as he was trying to do, there is a significant likelihood subsequent events would not have eventuated."
The coroner recommended NSW Police mandate the use of body-worn video in situations when officers were likely to use statutory powers.
The nation's largest police force has been reluctant to mandate body-worn cameras use, despite regular criticism from oversight bodies including the police watchdog.
Ms O'Sullivan also urged the force to review training provided to those on patrol duties, review use of force manuals and more.
"Bradley's sudden and unexpected death during a police operation was extremely shocking to those who knew him," she wrote.
"It was a devastating loss to his whole family."
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