Man ‘carrying knife’ dies after being shot by officers at Derby police station

A window at the front Ascot Drive police station was smashed during the incident - Tom Maddick/SWNS
A window at the front Ascot Drive police station was smashed during the incident - Tom Maddick/SWNS

A man allegedly carrying a knife has been shot dead after he was spotted in a secure police station car park in Derby.

Derbyshire Constabulary said that the suspect, whom it described as a white male, was spotted by officers on the grounds of Ascot Drive police station at 9.55am.

Armed officers were immediately deployed to the scene and several shots were reported to have been fired at 10.03am.

A window at the front of the police station was smashed during the incident, but it is unclear whether this was done by the suspect or the subsequent gunfire.

The man, whose identity remained unknown to police, suffered a gunshot wound and was initially given first aid treatment by police until he could be rushed to hospital, where he was declared dead.

The force is not currently treating the incident as terror-related but is continuing to carry out inquiries into a possible motive.

Witnesses said that they heard - Tom Maddick/SWNS
Witnesses said that they heard - Tom Maddick/SWNS

Derbyshire Constabulary has referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) over the shooting. Officers from the police watchdog attended the scene on Friday and later confirmed that a knife had been recovered.

Witnesses said they heard police shouting “Put it down, put it down” shortly before the man was shot dead.

One person, who works nearby and asked not to be named, said they heard three shots, followed by another shot after a 10-second pause.

Aerial images of the police station showed the glass in one door completely shattered, close to blood-stained clothing, including black boots and a jacket, as well as medical supplies.

The shooting on police premises came two years after the death of Matt Ratana, a Metropolitan Police officer who was shot dead inside Croydon Custody Centre in London.

The shattered door of Ascot Drive police station - Tom Maddick/SWNS
The shattered door of Ascot Drive police station - Tom Maddick/SWNS

There were scenes of confusion in the aftermath of Friday’s incident after shoppers in a nearby branch of B&M were asked to evacuate. Police said that was not on their orders.

Joanne Kennedy, 30, said: “I was on my way into the shop when I heard really loud crashes or bangs like beer barrels falling off a lorry.

“A minute or so later the whole place was swarming with cops and sirens blaring. We were all ordered back and told to leave the area.

“It was like something from a movie. I could hear a helicopter coming in and then it was suddenly away again.”

Another witness, who did not want to be named, said: “It all happened in the grounds of the police station. The windows of the police station have been blown through by the gunshots. There is blood all over the car park.”

Derby shooting - Simon Marper/PA Wire
Derby shooting - Simon Marper/PA Wire

One woman, who works nearby, said: “Someone said they heard people shouting ‘put it down, put it down’ before a gunshot went off.”

The IOPC said it would be asking the officers involved in the shooting to provide their initial accounts of what took place.

Derrick Campbell, an IOPC regional director, said: “Our thoughts are with all of those affected by this tragic incident. It is vital there is an independent investigation into all of the circumstances that resulted in this man’s death.

“I would like to reassure people that we will conduct a thorough and detailed investigation into what took place. Our enquiries are in their very early stages.”