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Police shoot man dead after cathedral stand-off
Danny Brierley1 Dec 2008
A man was shot dead by police in the grounds of a Surrey cathedral yesterday after pointing a gun at armed officers.
The man had refused several shouted orders to put the weapon down before he was killed by police marksmen in Guildford, Surrey.
It is not known whether more than one shot was fired before the man, who was seen pointing the weapon towards officers, slumped to the ground.
Police were called by a member of the public who saw the man wandering close to Guildford Cathedral with a gun in his hand. A police helicopter tracked his movements until armed officers arrived.
The area was then sealed off as repeated attempts were made to disarm the man, but about an hour later, at 3pm, he was shot dead.
It is thought to be the first time someone has been shot dead by police in Surrey, England's safest county.
The death came almost seven months after 32-year-old barrister Mark Saunders was shot dead by police at his Chelsea flat. Mr Saunders was shot 11 times by seven marksmen after a long stand-off.
People living in homes nearby said there had been a large police presence in the area since the incident.
The Surrey man was due to be named today by the Independent Police Complaints Commission, the body that routinely investigates shootings by police.
Last night a 21-year-old woman claimed he was an unemployed 26-year-old drug dealer who had a fascination with knives and guns.
She said the man was well known by people in Guildford and that he had recently attacked clubbers at a night spot in the town.
Police refused to discuss the man's identity, or any details of the case.
Investigators from the IPCC, which is also probing the death of Mr Saunders, arrived at the cathedral last night and began taking statements from the marksmen involved in the operation.
Reader views (6)
- Keith Ducain, Nelson, New Zealand.
How's the concept of reality in NZ these days?
- Frank, Home Counties, England, 02/12/2008 09:59
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live by the sword ,die by the sword !
- Peter Ex Londoner, Hartlepool, 02/12/2008 00:34
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Keith, "usually only drunk or mentally ill guy with a water pistol"? When is "usually"? Does it happen? Of course it could - is it even remotely "usual". Only in the minds of people who know nothing about the subject and have nothing better to do than snipe at people who do a difficult and dangerous job.
Its ironic - in one story we see commentary criticizing the police for being tied to rigid, overly controlled PC rules, and in the next we have people accusing them of being gung-ho licenced murderers. Make up your mind! Better still, stop thinking in terms of fairy stories and apply just a little intellect to the problem. It doesn't take much.
- Rogan, Irving, 01/12/2008 21:51
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Why is it that only opinions expressed against police use of firearms are published? Especially when the people expressing those opinions apparently know nothing about the effects of bullet wounds.
"The cops have bullet proof clothing, bullet proof shields, and tasers. Why are they not being used to make an arrest?" - this sort of comment only demonstrates this lack of knowledge. The police are not there to commit suicide.
- Rogan, Irving, 01/12/2008 21:11
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What is wrong with the British police ? Why does every report of an "armed man" ( usually only drunk or mentally ill guy with a water pistol ) lead to firearms being used to kill ?
The cops have bullet proof clothing, bullet proof shields, and tasers. Why are they not being used to make an arrest ?
-and finally, what is wrong with shooting to wound, not to kill ?
- Keith Ducain, Nelson, New Zealand., 01/12/2008 18:38
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> It is thought to be the first time someone has been shot dead by police in Surrey, England's safest county.
No, the third since 1990.
>The death came almost seven months after 32-year-old barrister Mark Saunders was shot dead by police at his Chelsea flat. Mr Saunders was shot 11 times by seven marksmen after a long stand-off.
What about the shooting of Andrew Hammond in Romford, just over a month ago?
- Dave Mudkip, London, UK, 01/12/2008 12:23
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