Knifeman shot dead by armed officers in Derby police station car park
Case reported to police watchdog after armed officers target suspect
A man armed with a knife in the car park of a Derby police station has died in hospital after being shot by officers.
Detectives are trying to identify the man, who was spotted in the car park of Ascot Drive police station at 9.55am, Derbyshire Constabulary said.
Armed officers were called and shot the man at 10.03am, it added. No one else was hurt.
Derbyshire Constabulary’s Professional Standards Department has informed the Independent Office for Police Conduct.
Officers tried to save him afterwards but he was pronounced dead at hospital.
They say he was white, and they are trying to establish his identity and contact his next of kin.
Witnesses had reported hearing gunshots and drone photographs showed a smashed glass door at the police station, along with blood-stained clothes and medical supplies on the ground where someone was treated.
The knifeman was airlifted to hospital by air ambulance.
Some businesses based inside the cordon closed temporarily and customers were asked to leave shops.
A witness said he heard six gunshots and saw an armed officer standing over the man.
Mark Baxter, who works at a nearby motor repair shop, told the BBC: “There was a series of gunshots. Two sharp blasts, two shots afterwards, a brief delay and then two more shots.”
He added: “We (went out and) saw there was someone on the ground with a guy stood over him with a gun, police cars and they shut the road off.”
Another witness said he thought it was an explosion at first. Mick Lahel said: “I heard the gunshots and walked around to the front of Farmfoods.
“I looked right next door to the fire station (which shares the site) and I saw somebody lying on the floor... and I saw an armed policeman with a gun.
“I thought it was an explosion at first. I was waiting to see smoke but then heard sirens.”
A witness who did not want to be identified said: “It all happened in the grounds of the police station.
“The windows of the police station have been blown through by the gun shots. There is blood all over the car park.
“We heard an officer had shot someone but we don’t know for sure.”
Two marked police cars guarded a blue forensics tent at one side of the cordon near the police station car park.
A group of officers were having discussions outside the premises, with police tape closing off access to Farmfoods and Topps Tiles nearby.
Two forensics officers in white suits made their way to and from the blue tent.
Deputy Chief Constable of Derbyshire Constabulary, Kate Meynell, said the shooting was not believed to be linked to terrorism.
She said: “It is not believed to be linked to counterterrorism at this time. However, inquiries are ongoing.”