Dad-to-be shot dead by police was not armed
a yOUnG black man was unarmed when he was shot dead in the street by officers, the police watchdog has confirmed.
chris Kaba, 24, was due to become a father for the first time in november. he was killed by police after they boxed in his audi following a chase through streatham, south London, on Monday night.
Mr Kaba’s family have demanded a criminal investigation and said they believe he was shot because of his ethnicity.
The independent Office for Police conduct (iOPc) said: ‘a detailed search of the scene and surrounding area was completed (on Tuesday night).
‘no non-police-issue firearm has been recovered from the vehicle or the scene.’
They said officers pursued the audi after it activated an automatic number plate recognition camera due to it being linked to a firearms incident in the previous days.’ Mr Kaba’s family said they wanted a specialist homicide investigation, which could result in officers being charged over his death.
They said: ‘We have told the iOPc of that demand and that we do not want any delay as has happened in other fatal shootings – otherwise we and the wider public can have no confidence that the police will be held to account.’
The family added: ‘We are devastated – we need answers and we need accountability. We are worried that if chris had not been black, he would have been arrested on Monday evening and not had his life cut short.’
scotland yard last night said the Met was ‘co-operating fully with the iOPc’.
commander alexis Boon said: ‘i also recognise that the family and community want answers about what happened.
‘i know the iOPc investigators are working hard to establish the facts but also need some time and space to be able to progress their enquiries.’
The iOPc said one shot was fired from a police-issue firearm during the incident.
Kim alleyne, 49, whose griefstricken daughter was engaged to marry Mr Kaba next year, said her future son-in-law had an apprenticeship to become an architect.
she said: ‘if that was a white boy, he would have got a chance to get out the car.’