Man shot dead by armed police after Christmas Eve standoff
Share:
A knife-wielding man was shot dead after an hours-long standoff with armed police on Christmas Eve. West Mercia Police said officers were called to Fownhope Close in Redditch, Worcestershire, at around 2pm on Tuesday after concerns were raised for the safety of a man, 39, with a knife.
The force said attempts were made over “several hours” to deal with the incident but the man was shot at around 7.40pm. He was pronounced dead just after 8pm, police said. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) confirmed a knife had been recovered from the scene and said the police officers involved had “provided initial accounts”.
It added that it believed “tasers were fired by officers during the incident” and “at around 7.40pm the man was shot by a firearms officer at the property”. The police complaints watchdog said it would conduct a “detailed and robust investigation” into the incident.
A friend of the victim said “he wouldn’t have harmed anybody”. Speaking at the scene, they told The Times: “He was really friendly, he was a nice guy. He had his demons. I’ve never once seen him cause trouble in the area. “When it happened everybody was out here in shock.”.
West Mercia Police Assistant Chief Constable Grant Wills said: “We do not underestimate the shock and concern this may cause the local community and I want to reassure residents that we are following all appropriate procedures, this included making an immediate referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), as is mandatory and right.
