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| Man shot dead by police had aimed gun at child's head, inquest told Man shot dead by police had aimed gun at child's head, inquest told | |
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| A man who had pointed a gun at the head of a child was later shot dead by police when he opened the door of his flat, an inquest has heard. | A man who had pointed a gun at the head of a child was later shot dead by police when he opened the door of his flat, an inquest has heard. |
| James Fox, who had a history of mental illness, was hit five times by armed officers who believed he was carrying a gun at his sixth-floor home on 30 August last year. | James Fox, who had a history of mental illness, was hit five times by armed officers who believed he was carrying a gun at his sixth-floor home on 30 August last year. |
| North London coroner’s court heard that two hours earlier, the 43-year-old had gone to the north London home of his father, Eamon Fox, and stepmother, Mary Bourke, and made threats towards the older man, who was not at home. | North London coroner’s court heard that two hours earlier, the 43-year-old had gone to the north London home of his father, Eamon Fox, and stepmother, Mary Bourke, and made threats towards the older man, who was not at home. |
| In a dramatic 101 call to police played to the jury, a child who was in the house with Bourke at the time, but cannot be identified for legal reasons, said: “He had the gun and he was pointing it at me. He was pointing it at my head.” | In a dramatic 101 call to police played to the jury, a child who was in the house with Bourke at the time, but cannot be identified for legal reasons, said: “He had the gun and he was pointing it at me. He was pointing it at my head.” |
| Bourke had earlier been heard to tell the operator: “He’s gone now but he had a gun.” | Bourke had earlier been heard to tell the operator: “He’s gone now but he had a gun.” |
| Police subsequently began a search for Fox and armed officers were deployed to his flat in Enfield, fearing he was armed with a weapon that could have been a shotgun or rifle. | Police subsequently began a search for Fox and armed officers were deployed to his flat in Enfield, fearing he was armed with a weapon that could have been a shotgun or rifle. |
| The jury heard that Fox had previously been known to own an airgun. | The jury heard that Fox had previously been known to own an airgun. |
| Coroner Andrew Walker told the jury of five men and five women: “Five police officers entered Picardy House and made their way outside Mr Fox’s flat, where at about 11.40pm police fired five shots, fatally wounding Mr Fox when he opened his door, carrying what police believed to be a firearm.” | Coroner Andrew Walker told the jury of five men and five women: “Five police officers entered Picardy House and made their way outside Mr Fox’s flat, where at about 11.40pm police fired five shots, fatally wounding Mr Fox when he opened his door, carrying what police believed to be a firearm.” |
| He added that Andover-born Fox, who died at the scene, had a “history of contact with the mental health services”. | He added that Andover-born Fox, who died at the scene, had a “history of contact with the mental health services”. |
| Sgt Derek Brook, the Metropolitan police’s firearms tactical adviser in the operation, said that although officers had been told by an informant that Fox was carrying an airgun, “we couldn’t be 100% sure” it was not something more powerful. | Sgt Derek Brook, the Metropolitan police’s firearms tactical adviser in the operation, said that although officers had been told by an informant that Fox was carrying an airgun, “we couldn’t be 100% sure” it was not something more powerful. |
| He added: “There wasn’t a way for us to identify whether it was an air pistol or not. | He added: “There wasn’t a way for us to identify whether it was an air pistol or not. |
| “My understanding is that he (the informant) was not there at the time and didn’t see the weapon.” | “My understanding is that he (the informant) was not there at the time and didn’t see the weapon.” |