A man wielding a knife was shot dead after an hours-long standoff with armed police on Christmas Eve in Worcestershire.
Officers were called to Fownhope Close in Redditch at around 2pm on Tuesday after concerns were raised for the safety of a 39-year-old man with a knife, according to West Mercia Police.
The force said a police negotiator responded and attempts were made to resolve the situation by “engaging with the man over several hours”, but he was shot by armed police at 7.40pm.
He was pronounced dead just after 8pm “despite best efforts to save him”, West Mercia Police said.
Nobody else was in the property at the time.
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”.
The police complaints watchdog said it would conduct a “detailed and robust investigation” into the incident.
A forensic investigator inside the property where the man was shot dead (Photo: Jacob King/PA Wire)A forensic investigator at the scene (Photo: Jacob King/PA Wire)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 it was a “tragic incident”.
He 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.
“We will support their investigation, which will include providing all information we hold, including body worn camera footage.”
The IOPC said investigators were overseeing forensic examinations of the interior and exterior of the address on Wednesday and would be reviewing police body worn camera footage.
IOPC director of operations Steve Noonan said: “Given a man has died after being shot by police, our role is to independently investigate all the circumstances surrounding this incident including the actions and decisions taken by officers.
“While police shootings are thankfully rare, it is understandable that people will be concerned when it does happen, and it is important we conduct a detailed and robust investigation into what took place.
“Our enquiries are in their very early stages.”
The IOPC said the coroner had been informed and a post-mortem examination will take place.
Uniformed police officers were on duty outside the three-storey block of flats on Christmas Day, with forensic experts present, and a tent set up at the rear of the building.
Tributes have been made on social media to the man who died.
One wrote: “RIP, thoughts are with you all.”
Another said: “So sorry to hear this! Sending love to all the family.”
There were two other fatal police shootings in 2024 up until August 16, according to Inquest, a charity which looks at state-related deaths.
Since 1990 there have been 83 other fatal police shootings since 1990, the charity’s data shows.
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