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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Man shot dead by police in siege | Man shot dead by police in siege |
| (about 10 hours later) | |
| A man has been shot dead by police in a siege at a house in County Durham. | A man has been shot dead by police in a siege at a house in County Durham. |
| Two uniformed officers responding to 999 calls went to Cheapside, Shildon, where they saw a man with what they thought was a crossbow. | Two uniformed officers responding to 999 calls went to Cheapside, Shildon, where they saw a man with what they thought was a crossbow. |
| Armed police surrounded the house after the officers reported that the crossbow had been fired, the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) said. | Armed police surrounded the house after the officers reported that the crossbow had been fired, the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) said. |
| At about 0120 BST police fired at the man, who was in his late 40s, said the IPCC, which is investigating the death. | At about 0120 BST police fired at the man, who was in his late 40s, said the IPCC, which is investigating the death. |
| Witness Richard Easton said: "From my back door I could see him at the window. | Witness Richard Easton said: "From my back door I could see him at the window. |
| 'Police shouting' | 'Police shouting' |
| "He was wearing a T-shirt and had a crossbow in his hand. He was firing at random. | "He was wearing a T-shirt and had a crossbow in his hand. He was firing at random. |
| "I saw him fire it a couple of times. | "I saw him fire it a couple of times. |
| "The police were trying to calm him down. They were shouting to him, 'put the weapon down'." | "The police were trying to calm him down. They were shouting to him, 'put the weapon down'." |
| Durham Police have referred the incident to the IPCC | Durham Police have referred the incident to the IPCC |
| Paramedics went to the scene but the man died there at about 0210 BST. | Paramedics went to the scene but the man died there at about 0210 BST. |
| The IPCC said in a statement: "Two unarmed officers went to the scene where they saw a man at a window with what is believed to have been a crossbow. | The IPCC said in a statement: "Two unarmed officers went to the scene where they saw a man at a window with what is believed to have been a crossbow. |
| "A short time later, two armed response vehicles were dispatched to the scene after officers reported that the crossbow had been fired. | "A short time later, two armed response vehicles were dispatched to the scene after officers reported that the crossbow had been fired. |
| "Armed officers surrounded the house. | "Armed officers surrounded the house. |
| "Just after 0120 BST, armed officers fired at the man, before entering the house where they discovered the man with injuries." | "Just after 0120 BST, armed officers fired at the man, before entering the house where they discovered the man with injuries." |
| 'Very distressing' | 'Very distressing' |
| Supt Graham Hall, from Durham Police, said the officers involved in the shooting were receiving support. | Supt Graham Hall, from Durham Police, said the officers involved in the shooting were receiving support. |
| He said: "When officers arrived they were confronted by a gentleman armed with a crossbow and unfortunately during the course of the incident it is with deep regret that the gentleman was shot by police." | He said: "When officers arrived they were confronted by a gentleman armed with a crossbow and unfortunately during the course of the incident it is with deep regret that the gentleman was shot by police." |
| He said the dead man lived alone at the house. | He said the dead man lived alone at the house. |
| "It is a very distressing incident for all concerned, residents, friends and family of the deceased person," he said. | "It is a very distressing incident for all concerned, residents, friends and family of the deceased person," he said. |
| The area around Cheapside was cordoned off and motorists were advised to avoid it. | The area around Cheapside was cordoned off and motorists were advised to avoid it. |
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| The case has been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission |