Police suspend firearms officer who shot dead Chris Kaba in south London
Move comes days after deceased’s loved ones called for officer’s immediate suspension
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The Metropolitan Police has suspended a firearms officer who shot dead an unarmed Black man in southwest London last week.
Chris Kaba, 24, was months away from becoming a husband and a father when he was killed in a chase involving armed officers.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), had announced that it has launched a murder investigation into his death.
It said armed officers had pursued Kaba after an automatic number plate recognition camera indicated that the vehicle he was driving was linked to a firearms incident in the previous days.
Kaba’s Audi was hemmed in by two police vehicles in Kirkstall Gardens, Streatham Hill, and one round was fired from a police weapon.
The officer who fired the bullet that killed Kaba has been suspended, the Met Police announced a week after the incident.
It comes after Kaba’s family and friends demanded that the officer be immediately suspended from duty.
Scotland Yard initially removed the officer from frontline duties but had allowed him to carry on working.
The Met’s assistant commissioner Amanda Pearson said on Monday evening: “Following the death of Chris Kaba, the firearms officer involved has been suspended from duty.
“This decision has been reached following careful consideration of a number of factors, including the significant impact on public confidence, and in light of the Independent Office for Police Conduct announcing a homicide investigation.
“Our thoughts and sympathies remain with Mr Kaba’s family and friends. We understand how concerned communities are, particularly Black communities, and thank those who are working closely with our local officers.
“We are actively supporting the IOPC investigation and would ask those with information that could be useful in establishing what happened to contact the IOPC directly to maintain the independence of their investigation.”
She continued: “The decision to suspend the officer does not determine the outcome of the IOPC investigation. Firearms officers serve to protect the public and know that on the rare occasions when they discharge their weapons, they will face intense scrutiny.
“I know this development will have a significant impact on the officer and colleagues.”
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan welcomed the Met’s decision to suspend the officer.
He said: “I welcome this decision and am in regular contact with the IOPC and the new commissioner.
“My thoughts remain with Chris Kaba's loved ones at this intensely difficult time as the IOPC continue their independent homicide investigation.”