(C) Joshua Brown
A man was shot dead by police outside Milton Keynes Central railway station on Tuesday afternoon following reports that he was carrying a firearm.
Thames Valley Police (TVP) confirmed that armed officers responded to the incident at 12:55 BST and challenged the man, who was reportedly in possession of a knife. According to a police statement, the man moved at speed towards the officers before a shot was fired.
Despite immediate attempts by officers to provide life-saving first aid, the man was pronounced dead at the scene at 13:44.
Eyewitnesses described hearing a “very loud” gunshot and seeing officers administer CPR for at least 10 minutes. Hever Marin, who was inside the station at the time, said: “They tried really hard to resuscitate him. It was very distressing.”
A blue forensic tent was later erected at the scene, and a police cordon remained in place throughout the afternoon. Access to some station exits was restricted, though train services operated by London Northwestern Railway continued to run as normal.
Barentina Corredor, a local shop worker, described the incident as “shocking”, adding: “They were trying so hard on CPR – it was quite something to witness.”
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has launched an investigation and confirmed that its investigators were deployed to the scene. The IOPC said it would examine “all of the circumstances” surrounding the incident, including the decisions made by the officers involved.
Matthew Barber, Police and Crime Commissioner for Thames Valley, issued a statement supporting the actions of the armed officers. “Whilst it is right that the IOPC reviews this incident, from what I understand at this early stage, I am confident the officers should be praised for their actions to protect members of the public,” he said.
The man’s identity has not yet been released.
British Transport Police and Thames Valley Police officers remained at the station into the evening to reassure the public, and investigation work is expected to continue.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Thames Valley Police or the IOPC.
