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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Driver shot dead by police in Somerset named | Driver shot dead by police in Somerset named |
| (4 months later) | |
| IPCC reveals four officers opened fire on Spencer Ashworth, 29, after reports of man threatening another motorist with handgun | |
| Steven Morris and | |
| Holly Watt | |
| Mon 2 Oct 2017 16.45 BST | |
| Last modified on Mon 27 Nov 2017 16.04 GMT | |
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| A motorist shot dead by police after being spotted apparently pointing a gun at fellow drivers has been named as 29-year-old Spencer Ashworth. | A motorist shot dead by police after being spotted apparently pointing a gun at fellow drivers has been named as 29-year-old Spencer Ashworth. |
| Ashworth’s last known address was in Portishead, Somerset, close to where the fatal shooting took place on Wednesday. | Ashworth’s last known address was in Portishead, Somerset, close to where the fatal shooting took place on Wednesday. |
| The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), which is investigating the circumstances of Ashworth’s death on the A369 Portbury Hundred road between Bristol and Portishead, revealed on Monday that four officers opened fire. | The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), which is investigating the circumstances of Ashworth’s death on the A369 Portbury Hundred road between Bristol and Portishead, revealed on Monday that four officers opened fire. |
| It said initial information indicated officers were responding to a report of a man travelling on the M5 with a handgun and that he had threatened another motorist. | It said initial information indicated officers were responding to a report of a man travelling on the M5 with a handgun and that he had threatened another motorist. |
| The IPCC has also been informed of an earlier incident where a similar report was received by West Mercia police, 50 miles from the scene of the shooting. | The IPCC has also been informed of an earlier incident where a similar report was received by West Mercia police, 50 miles from the scene of the shooting. |
| Investigators said Ashworth was travelling in a red Suzuki Swift. Authorised firearms officers (AFOs) from Avon and Somerset police arrived in one marked police vehicle and two unmarked police vehicles. | Investigators said Ashworth was travelling in a red Suzuki Swift. Authorised firearms officers (AFOs) from Avon and Somerset police arrived in one marked police vehicle and two unmarked police vehicles. |
| The police watchdog said: “Investigators attended the scene and the post-incident procedure, where police officers provided their initial accounts of the incident. The evidence indicates that a number of shots were fired by four officers. What appears to be a non-police issue firearm found at the scene is currently subject to ballistics and forensic testing.” | The police watchdog said: “Investigators attended the scene and the post-incident procedure, where police officers provided their initial accounts of the incident. The evidence indicates that a number of shots were fired by four officers. What appears to be a non-police issue firearm found at the scene is currently subject to ballistics and forensic testing.” |
| Ashworth, a lorry driver, was known to the police. Last year he pleaded guilty to using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause fear of or provoke unlawful violence. | Ashworth, a lorry driver, was known to the police. Last year he pleaded guilty to using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause fear of or provoke unlawful violence. |
| The offence was connected to an incident in a locksmith’s shop in Bristol. | The offence was connected to an incident in a locksmith’s shop in Bristol. |
| Locksmith Pete Taylor, 60, said Ashworth argued with him over a refund. “He grabbed hold of me by the jacket and said: ‘Open your till’. I pulled away and called the police and he just calmly walked away.” | Locksmith Pete Taylor, 60, said Ashworth argued with him over a refund. “He grabbed hold of me by the jacket and said: ‘Open your till’. I pulled away and called the police and he just calmly walked away.” |
| Ashworth pleaded guilty at Bristol magistrates court and was ordered to pay £80 fine, £85 costs, and compensation of £50. | Ashworth pleaded guilty at Bristol magistrates court and was ordered to pay £80 fine, £85 costs, and compensation of £50. |
| He was also due to appear in court this month for an alleged speeding offence. | He was also due to appear in court this month for an alleged speeding offence. |
| Ashworth bought the red Suzuki Swift car after his previous vehicle – the same model – failed an MOT. | Ashworth bought the red Suzuki Swift car after his previous vehicle – the same model – failed an MOT. |
| He has flitted between the south coast and the west country and his last known address was a shared townhouse in Portishead, Somerset, a 10-minute drive from the spot where he was shot dead. Neighbours there said he had moved out some months ago. | He has flitted between the south coast and the west country and his last known address was a shared townhouse in Portishead, Somerset, a 10-minute drive from the spot where he was shot dead. Neighbours there said he had moved out some months ago. |
| IPCC investigators are examining body-worn video footage from a number of the AFOs. The IPCC is appealing for any other road users who may have captured any part of the incident on their dashcams or helmet cams to share it with investigators. | IPCC investigators are examining body-worn video footage from a number of the AFOs. The IPCC is appealing for any other road users who may have captured any part of the incident on their dashcams or helmet cams to share it with investigators. |
| A postmortem examination carried out on Thursday in the presence of an IPCC investigator found Ashworth died of gunshot injuries. | A postmortem examination carried out on Thursday in the presence of an IPCC investigator found Ashworth died of gunshot injuries. |
| The officers involved were being treated as witnesses. The IPCC said this would be kept under review as the investigation continued. Formal identification by Ashworth’s family will take place on Tuesday. | The officers involved were being treated as witnesses. The IPCC said this would be kept under review as the investigation continued. Formal identification by Ashworth’s family will take place on Tuesday. |
| The IPCC operations manager, Mel Evans, said: “We are conducting a thorough and detailed independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding Mr Ashworth’s death. | The IPCC operations manager, Mel Evans, said: “We are conducting a thorough and detailed independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding Mr Ashworth’s death. |
| “We have made positive progress and are continuing to build a detailed picture of what happened. We have made contact with Mr Ashworth’s family to offer our condolences and explain our role and will ensure they, Avon and Somerset police and the coroner are kept updated. Our thoughts remain with all of those affected. | “We have made positive progress and are continuing to build a detailed picture of what happened. We have made contact with Mr Ashworth’s family to offer our condolences and explain our role and will ensure they, Avon and Somerset police and the coroner are kept updated. Our thoughts remain with all of those affected. |
| “If anyone witnessed events who has not yet come forward we would be grateful to hear from them.” | “If anyone witnessed events who has not yet come forward we would be grateful to hear from them.” |
| The IPCC received referrals from West Mercia police and Gloucestershire police in relation to how they dealt with information received from a member of the public prior to the incident near Portishead. | The IPCC received referrals from West Mercia police and Gloucestershire police in relation to how they dealt with information received from a member of the public prior to the incident near Portishead. |
| The member of the public made the report to West Mercia police. This information was passed to Gloucestershire police. However, the IPCC was not planning at this stage to investigate the actions of either force. | The member of the public made the report to West Mercia police. This information was passed to Gloucestershire police. However, the IPCC was not planning at this stage to investigate the actions of either force. |
| It is known that West Mercia police received a report about a man pointing a gun at a fellow motorist at 8.30am on Wednesday near junction eight of the M5 in Worcestershire. The force passed this information on to the central motorway police group (CMPG), which covers the network in the Midlands. | It is known that West Mercia police received a report about a man pointing a gun at a fellow motorist at 8.30am on Wednesday near junction eight of the M5 in Worcestershire. The force passed this information on to the central motorway police group (CMPG), which covers the network in the Midlands. |
| At 8.40am, the CMPG told Gloucestershire police about the unfolding incident. Avon and Somerset officers stopped the car when it left the M5 at junction 19 at 9.30am. | At 8.40am, the CMPG told Gloucestershire police about the unfolding incident. Avon and Somerset officers stopped the car when it left the M5 at junction 19 at 9.30am. |
| Images of the scene showed what appeared to be a handgun on the roof of the red Suzuki Swift. There were at least four bullet holes in the offside of the vehicle and the driver’s side front window was smashed. Blood and glass, as well as a sunhat, could be seen on the floor by the hatchback. | Images of the scene showed what appeared to be a handgun on the roof of the red Suzuki Swift. There were at least four bullet holes in the offside of the vehicle and the driver’s side front window was smashed. Blood and glass, as well as a sunhat, could be seen on the floor by the hatchback. |
| Witnesses have given different accounts of how many shots were fired. Motorist David Ellison said: “Ahead of me were police in the road. I saw them back off from a car and then they surrounded it. They maybe shot with handguns five, six, maybe 10 times. Then they dragged a man from the car to resuscitate him.” | Witnesses have given different accounts of how many shots were fired. Motorist David Ellison said: “Ahead of me were police in the road. I saw them back off from a car and then they surrounded it. They maybe shot with handguns five, six, maybe 10 times. Then they dragged a man from the car to resuscitate him.” |
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