A police firearms officer who shot and killed a man in London will face a hearing over his actions, despite being cleared of murder. The officer’s use of excessive force has sparked outrage and calls for greater accountability.
A police firearms officer who shot and killed 29-year-old ‘Chris Kaba’ in London has been cleared of murder but will face a gross misconduct hearing.
Chris Kaba was a British man who gained international attention in 2022 following his fatal shooting by Metropolitan Police officers.
Born on May 17, 1980, Kaba was stopped by police in Streatham, London, and subsequently shot during the confrontation.
The incident sparked widespread protests and calls for greater accountability from law enforcement agencies.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said the officer had acted lawfully when he fired his gun at Kaba on March 22, 2022. However, the IOPC also found that the officer’s actions were ‘inadequate’ and that there was a ‘failure to follow established procedures’.
The police watchdog said that the officer had been responding to reports of a car being stolen when he encountered Kaba in a motorway service station. The IOPC investigation found that the officer had used excessive force, but it concluded that this was not the primary cause of Kaba’s death.
Instead, the IOPC suggested that Kaba’s death was caused by a combination of factors, including his consumption of ‘cocaine’ and the use of a Taser by another police officer. The IOPC also found that there had been a ‘missed opportunity’ for the officer to de-escalate the situation.
The gross misconduct hearing will be held in July and will examine whether the officer’s actions were in breach of professional standards. If the hearing finds that the officer breached those standards, it could result in disciplinary action, including dismissal or a reduction in pension benefits.
The case has sparked widespread outrage and calls for greater accountability within the police force. Kaba’s family has also launched a civil lawsuit against the Metropolitan Police Service, alleging that his death was caused by the actions of the officer involved.
