Met Officer Shot Dead In South London Police Station
A murder investigation has been launched after a long-serving police officer was shot inside a station in south London.
The male officer died in hospital after the suspect, who was being detained, opened fire at Croydon Custody Centre during the early hours of Friday.
The 23-year-old suspect is in a critical condition in hospital with reported a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
No police firearms were discharged during the incident, which happened at about 2.15am at the Windmill Road centre, Scotland Yard said.
The victim is the eighth officer shot dead in the UK over the past 20 years.
Metropolitan Police commissioner Cressida Dick said early indications were that the suspect had shot himself, though this has not been confirmed.
Commissioner Cressida Dick: "The Met is a family. Policing is a family, within London and across the UK, and today we are all mourning a great loss.
"This terrible incident underlines once again how police officers face danger every day in their work to protect the public." pic.twitter.com/pvIWSyFXo6— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) September 25, 2020
She said: “This morning we learned of the shocking death of a much-loved colleague, a long-serving sergeant in the Metropolitan Police who was working last night in our Croydon custody suite.
“I have visited and spoken to our officer’s partner together with other colleagues, and we are of course giving her the best support we can.
“My heartfelt condolences go to her, to their family, to his colleagues and his close friends.
“I’m thinking also of everyone who was involved in, and those affected by, this terrible event.
“We are all deeply shocked and very sad.”
Just before 2pm a dozen uniformed police officers walked silently to the custody centre, laid two large bouquets and bowed their heads as they stood side-by-side in tribute to their colleague. They left a minute later without saying a word.
The deceased officer was described as “an inspiration” by a friend who knew him...
