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Police who shot unarmed man followed procedure, watchdog finds Police who shot unarmed man followed procedure, watchdog finds
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Police who shot an unarmed black man in the chest at point blank range were following “policy and procedure”, the police watchdog has found.Police who shot an unarmed black man in the chest at point blank range were following “policy and procedure”, the police watchdog has found.
Youth charity founder and former gang member Sharif Cousins was not charged with any offence after he was shot by firearms officers on 26 July 2017 near his home in Rubery, Birmingham. Sharif Cousins, a founder of a youth charity and former gang member, was not charged with any offence after he was shot by firearms officers on 26 July 2017 near his home in Rubery, Birmingham.
The 42-year-old told the Guardian he was out buying cigarettes with his friend when he was ambushed by armed police. The bullet entered Cousins’s chest, broke his ribs, punctured his lung and became lodged in his back. He spent nearly a month in hospital, much of it in a coma. The 42-year-old told the Guardian he was out buying cigarettes with his friend when he was ambushed by armed police. The bullet entered Cousins’ chest, broke his ribs, punctured his lung and became lodged in his back. He spent nearly a month in hospital, much of it in a coma.
Cousins’s friend Jamael Scarlett was arrested at the scene and later convicted and sentenced to 16 years in prison for three counts of possessing a firearm and ammunition. Cousins’ friend Jamael Scarlett was arrested at the scene and later convicted and sentenced to 16 years in prison on three counts of possessing a firearm and ammunition.
In a summary of the report by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), published on Monday, the body confirmed that “no prior intelligence existed which named Sharif Cousins as a subject of, or being of interest to, the police operation”. They said police only learned of his identity when he was taken to hospital. In a summary of the report by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), published on Monday, the body confirmed that “no prior intelligence existed which named Sharif Cousins as a subject of, or being of interest to, the police operation”. They said police learned of his identity only when he was taken to hospital.
However, the the IOPC concluded: “Our thorough investigation examined the actions of all the police involved, including the officer who fired the shot, and we found that they were in line with policy and procedure.”However, the the IOPC concluded: “Our thorough investigation examined the actions of all the police involved, including the officer who fired the shot, and we found that they were in line with policy and procedure.”
They said officers had been briefed that they might face an armed threat and that gang members involved in gun crime in the region often hid weapons down the back of their trousers.They said officers had been briefed that they might face an armed threat and that gang members involved in gun crime in the region often hid weapons down the back of their trousers.
The report summary stated that when the men were stopped and asked to show their hands, Cousins “held his hand slightly behind him and towards the rear of his body” and appeared to be getting something out of his pocket.The report summary stated that when the men were stopped and asked to show their hands, Cousins “held his hand slightly behind him and towards the rear of his body” and appeared to be getting something out of his pocket.
“Believing the man to have a weapon he was about to use, one of the officers shot the man in the chest,” the report reads. The officer said “he did not believe he had had viable alternative options – such as, for instance, Taser – due to the immediacy of the potential threat posed”.“Believing the man to have a weapon he was about to use, one of the officers shot the man in the chest,” the report reads. The officer said “he did not believe he had had viable alternative options – such as, for instance, Taser – due to the immediacy of the potential threat posed”.
“In our view the officer concerned believed that there was an immediate and genuine risk posed to him, and his colleague, when he made the split-second decision to shoot,” said IOPC regional director, Derrick Campbell. “In our view the officer concerned believed that there was an immediate and genuine risk posed to him, and his colleague, when he made the split-second decision to shoot,” said the IOPC’s regional director, Derrick Campbell.
Cousins was previously a member of the Birmingham gang the Burger Bar Boys, which has been locked in a feud with a group called the Johnson Crew. He has spent a total of 15 years in jail, including eight years for pointing a gun at a police officer’s head.Cousins was previously a member of the Birmingham gang the Burger Bar Boys, which has been locked in a feud with a group called the Johnson Crew. He has spent a total of 15 years in jail, including eight years for pointing a gun at a police officer’s head.
He was released in 2011 and the following year founded New Day Foundation, which received national publicity for its work to deter young people from getting “sucked in” to gang culture.He was released in 2011 and the following year founded New Day Foundation, which received national publicity for its work to deter young people from getting “sucked in” to gang culture.
Scarlett was not armed when Cousins was shot, but police said Scarlett had discarded ammunition near Cousins’s house and that the ambush was part of a wider operation that led to six people being jailed for firearms offences. Scarlett was not armed when Cousins was shot, but police said Scarlett had discarded ammunition near Cousins’ house and that the ambush was part of a wider operation that led to six people being jailed for firearms offences.
Cousins, a father of four, told the Guardian that the shooting had had a lasting impact on his health and that he was on anti-anxiety and anti-depression medication. He now plans to pursue legal action against West Midlands police. Cousins, a father of four, told the Guardian that the shooting had had a lasting impact on his health and that he was on anti-anxiety and anti-depression medication. He plans to pursue legal action against West Midlands police.
He claims he was harassed by the force in the years leading up to his shooting, being arrested by armed police a number of times but only ever charged for driving offences and resisting arrest. West Midlands police confirmed last year that he had been arrested a total of seven times since 2014. He claims he was harassed by the force in the years leading up to his shooting, and arrested by armed police a number of times, but only ever charged for driving offences and resisting arrest. West Midlands police confirmed last year that he had been arrested seven times since 2014.
“In my youth I did things that I’m not proud of and I got involved with things that I shouldn’t have done, but I have never once gone un-punished for a crime,” he said on Monday. “Eventually, when I got to my late twenties I realised that this wasn’t a life I should be living anymore. I came out of prison and all of that stuff is behind me.” “In my youth I did things that I’m not proud of and I got involved with things that I shouldn’t have done, but I have never once gone unpunished for a crime,” he said on Monday. “Eventually, when I got to my late 20s I realised that this wasn’t a life I should be living anymore. I came out of prison and all of that stuff is behind me.”
The IOPC was due to publish its investigation in summer last year, but the publication was delayed due to legal arguments over what details could be made public. As a result, only a summary of the report was published on Monday. The IOPC was due to publish its investigation last summer, but publication was delayed due to legal arguments over what details could be made public. As a result, only a summary of the report was published on Monday.
West Midlands police declined to comment on the IOPC findings.West Midlands police declined to comment on the IOPC findings.
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