Met Police officer will be investigated for ‘homicide’ after killing unarmed dad-to-be Chris Kaba in shooting
A POLICE officer is facing a homicide investigation after an unarmed dad-to-be was shot dead.
Chris Kaba, 24, died after police attempted to stop his vehicle when a number plate recognition camera indicated it could be linked to a firearms incident days earlier.
Following a chase, an armed officer fired a single shot at Mr Kaba, fatally wounding him, in Streatham Hill, South London, at around 10pm on Monday.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct said after his death no firearm was recovered and it has now has launched a homicide investigation into his death.
The watchdog said Mr Kaba died after a single shot was fired by an specialist Metropolitan Police firearms officer during an attempt to stop and contain the vehicle he was driving.
Mr Kaba was a drill rapper known as Madix or Mad Itch, and was part of the MOBO-nominated drill group 67.
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After his death his heartbroken mum Helen accused the police of “racism”.
“My heart is broken. I am speechless. My heart is broken,” she told the BBC.
“Police have taken Chris from me, I don’t know how to say, but I need justice to be done for Chris. This is very racist, it’s no good.
“I need justice to be done, criminal justice to be done.”
Chris’s dad Prosper added: “No-one can give any justification on why the police act.
“For us it’s totally racist and criminal.”
Heartbroken pals also revealed he was due to become a dad for the first time.
One said: “He was going to have his first child. Now his child is going to have no father. It breaks my heart.
”He had nothing to do with gangs or anything like that.”
The Met’s Assistant Commissioner Amanda Pearson said the force is “co-operating fully” with IOPC probe and the officer concerned is currently not on frontline duties.
“My thoughts and sympathies remain with Mr Kaba’s friends and family with this news,” said AC Pearson.
“I also know how concerned our communities are and how they will also be affected by this significant update. We share their concern.
“I absolutely understand that this shooting is a matter of grave concern, particularly for our Black communities.”
But she added: “I also know what a difficult and often dangerous job firearms officers in particular do every day to try to protect the public.
“They understand and expect that on the very rare occasions they discharge their weapons they will face intense scrutiny. I don’t underestimate the impact on them of this development.”
The IOPC said its investigation is continuing to gather evidence.
“The launch of a criminal investigation does not mean that criminal charges will necessarily follow,” said the watch dog in a statement.
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“We have notified Mr Kaba’s family of this latest development.
“We continue to ask that people avoid speculating about this incident out of respect for Mr Kaba’s family and for everyone else affected.”