A mother is “clinging to life” after she was stabbed repeatedly by her son who was then shot by police. 

Gabriel Messo, 31, attacked his 54-year-old mother Lilla at the John Coutts Reserve in Gladstone Park about 3.30 pm on Thursday.

The man was shot dead by junior officers at the scene and the woman is now in critical condition at the Royal Melbourne Hospital. 

The mother and son were named on Friday, however police only confirmed that they were known to each other, and not that they were mother and son. 

It was confirmed on Friday that the state coroner Judge John Cain went to the site of the fatal shooting and is investigating the incident. 

Police patrol arrived at the parkland on Katrina Drive following numerous reports of a man assaulting a woman. 

The officers tried to stop the man but subsequently shot him when he refused to cease the attack. 

Police were initially unable to identify the woman because of the extent of her injuries.

The man did not have a criminal record but is known to police, who had recent contact with him.

Police appealed to witnesses of what's believed to have been a stabbing attack.