Police shooting of fleeing man in underpants ‘was reasonable’
AN independent investigation into the police shooting of an armed man trying to flee in his underpants has ruled it was ‘reasonable and proportionate’.
Duane Thomas was wounded in his shoulder by a West Midland Police officer who feared the fugitive might fire at him because he was brandishing a revolver.
Thomas, 30, of Shepherds Gardens, Edgbaston, who had previously pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm and ammunition, was sentenced to six years and four months in prison.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct has now concluded its probe into the shooting which took place at 5am on October 2 last year at the back of the Shepherds Gardens flat, near Five Ways.
Police were executing a search warrant in a pre-planned firearms operation when Thomas fled into the back garden and appeared at the top of a low fence.
The officer who fired the single shot was outside the garden, covering the back of the property, and said he believed the fugitive was holding a handgun and was about to use it.
Immediately after the man fell to the ground, officers provided first aid and carried on until an ambulance arrived.
Previous reports revealed Thomas was shot in the arm
IOPC Regional director Derrick Campbell said: “We recognise incidents of this kind are of concern to the community and thankfully the man recovered from his injuries.
“Shootings involving the police are still relatively rare but when potentially lethal force is used we have a duty to provide independent scrutiny.”
He added: “Our investigation was thorough and examined the actions of all the police involved, and we found that they acted in line with policy and procedure.
“The officer who fired the shot was experienced and appropriately trained in the use of firearms.
“We considered the operational planning and the way the situation unfolded, and we concluded that the use of force was reasonable and proportionate in the circumstances.”
The IOPC said it sent investigators to the scene after West Midland Police notified its officers of the shooting. Once there, they oversaw initial forensic examinations, and also attended police post-incident procedure.
Their inspectors gathered police bodycam video for review, took statements from the officers involved and conducted extensive house-to-house enquiries.
A spokesman said all police officers were treated as witnesses throughout an investigation which took eight months, but findings were delayed until the conclusion of associated criminal proceedings.