Streatham Shooting: Man pronounced dead after being shot by police following car chase in London

Firearms officers pursued suspect’s vehicle before stopping it with ‘tactical contact’ and opening fire on driver

File image: The Metropolitan Police have referred the incident for investigation (PA Archive)

A man has died after being shot by a Metropolitan Police officer following a car chase in Streatham Hill, south London.

The Metropolitan Police announced the death after it referred the incident for investigation over the pursuit by specialist firearms officers in Lambeth.

“At 9.51pm on Monday, 5 September, specialist firearms officers were in pursuit of a suspect vehicle in the Lambeth area,” said a Met statement.

“The vehicle was stopped following tactical contact in Kirkstall Gardens, Streatham Hill. A police firearm was discharged.”

“An occupant of the suspect vehicle, a man believed to be aged in his 20s, sustained a gunshot injury.

“London Ambulance Service and London’s Air Ambulance were requested. Officers administered first aid prior to their arrival and the man was taken to hospital, where he died at 12.16am.

“Enquiries are ongoing to notify his next of kin. Cordons and road closures are in place.”

It noted that the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards and the Independent Office for Police Conduct have been contacted following the incident and they have “launched an independent investigation”.

No other injuries were reported, though cordons and road closures are in place as police carry out their probe.

Several residents shared their accounts of what they saw after the man was shot in the police pursuit.

A 39-year-old man, who lives on New Park Road and asked not to be named, said the driver’s car was “immobile” when fatally shot by the police.

“The (driver) drove up New Park Road and turned up Kirkstall Gardens. A police car came down Kirkstall Gardens and crashed into him.

“Another police car came in behind him and they had him locked in at the bottom of Kirkstall Gardens. The car was immobile when he was shot.”

He added: “The bang was really loud. I was in my house with my gaming headphones on and I heard it.”

One woman who lives in Kirkstall Gardens, who asked not to be named, told the Press Association: “I heard a big bang and then I came outside.

“From inside I could see the blue lights and a helicopter. There were plenty of police officers. It looked like somebody was lying on the floor and they were trying to attend to the person.

“I’ve lived here for a year or so and I’ve never experienced anything like that,” she said.

A man who lives on Kirkstall Road, who also asked not to be named, said: “I heard what sounded like one or two gunshots and then a lot of commotion. I saw some police cars and then the main commotion was over pretty quickly.”

Additional reporting by agencies