Funeral for man shot dead in Cov during police raid
FAMILY of the man shot dead by police in Coventry have released a short statement ahead of his funeral today.
Sean Fitzgerald died on January 4 after armed police carried out a raid at an address in Burnaby Road and he suffered a single gunshot wound to the chest.
The raid was carried out by the West Midlands Regional Organised Crime Unit and West Midlands Police, after a warrant was issued in support of a Warwickshire Police investigation.
His funeral was set to take place at St Thomas Church, Keresley, at midday, and he will be later laid to rest at Marston Lane cemetery, Bedworth at 1.30pm.
Ahead of the funeral, Sean Fitzgerald’s family have released a short statement and a photo of Sean enjoying himself at the Ricoh Arena.
They said: “There has been a lot of public interest and concern around the circumstances of Sean’s death which is currently under investigation by the IOPC.
“Sean’s family are engaged in that investigation. We are devastated that we are laying Sean to rest in these circumstances.
“We will continue in our efforts to uncover the truth and hold those responsible for Sean’s death to account.
“We have nothing further to say at this stage and ask that our family’s privacy is respected during this very difficult and distressing time”.
Previously, the family requested no flowers to be sent by well-wishers and has asked for donations to Help for Heroes instead.
Donations can be made via J E Hackett and Sons online here or send them to J E Hackett and Son Ltd, 93 Leicester Road, Bedworth, CV12 8AH, or call 024 7631 3326.
An investigation into Mr Fitzgerald’s death has been launched by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which is expected to conclude in June.
The Telegraph asked the police watchdog for information about the investigation that led to the warrant being executed in Burnaby Road.
A spokesperson for the IOPC said at the time: “As we have stated, the intelligence provided for the planning and carrying out of the operation will form part of our investigation.
“However details relating to Warwickshire Police’s criminal investigation are a matter for the force to address.”
Warwickshire Police previously said in a statement that the force’s “investigation was into organised crime”.
An inquest was opened last month and heard how the officers got to the address and began to force entry and Mr Fitzgerald ran out the back of the house.
At the five-minute hearing Andrew Beech, a team leader at the IOPC, said its inquiry will look at the “decisions and actions of the police officer who fired the shot”.
It will also investigate the “intelligence and operational planning” before the raid, Mr Beech said.
He told the hearing in Leamington that police went to the house under a Section 8 search warrant.