A tragic incident in Redditch saw a father of two shot by police on Christmas Eve after a lengthy standoff
Redditch: A dad of two lost his life after a police officer fired a single shot during a standoff. This all went down on Christmas Eve, which is just heartbreaking.
It started when police were called to a home on Fownhope Close around 2 PM. They were worried about the welfare of the person inside. For hours, they tried to talk to Marcus Meade, who was 39 and armed with a knife.
Things escalated later in the evening. Around 7:40 PM, officers used distraction devices to enter the property. They made loud bangs and flashes to try to get him out. Then, a Taser was used, and sadly, an armed officer fired a shot that hit Marcus in the chest.
Despite immediate first aid efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene around 8 PM. It’s just so tragic, especially during the holidays.
Afterward, a post-mortem was done on New Year’s Eve, and toxicology tests are ongoing. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is looking into everything that happened, gathering evidence and reviewing body camera footage from the incident.
IOPC’s regional director, Derrick Campbell, expressed condolences to Marcus’s family and assured the community that they’re committed to a thorough investigation. They want to understand all the details surrounding this sad event.
They’re also in touch with Marcus’s family to keep them updated on the investigation. It’s a tough time for everyone involved, and the IOPC is working hard to get to the bottom of it.
