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Police shoot black youth (1)

01 January 1991

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Police shoot black youth
artdoc October=1991

Tension is high in the black community of Hadley, near Telford,
in Shropshire after West Mercia police marksmen shot dead a 24
year old black man, Ian Gordon, who had been seen walking around
the town with an air rifle. There are conflicting accounts of the
shooting with the police claiming that the officers involved
believed that their lives were at risk. Eye witness, Claire
Middleton, disputes this claiming that the policemen screamed at
Gordon to put his gun down and that he replied: `It's only a toy
gun, it isn't going to hurt you.' Ian's friend, Shazad Khan, also
says that he told police that the weapon was harmless and not
loaded. After Ian's death there were angry clashes between the
community and the police, and four hundred demonstrators marched
through Telford in protest at the killing. Ian's family intend
to sue West Mercia police for damages, alleging negligence. His
younger brother, Garry, has appealed to the Home Secretary to set
up an independent inquiry.
Guardian, 17.8.91; Observer, 18.8.91; Voice, 20.8.91

Statewatch no 4 September/October 1991

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