Parents' Christmas 'destroyed' by police shooting

A man's parents say their lives have been "destroyed" after he was shot dead by armed police on Christmas Eve last year.

Marcus Meade, a father of two, was killed after West Mercia Police officers entered his flat in Redditch, Worcestershire, following a five-hour standoff.

The 39-year-old's parents Anthony Meade and Deborah Clarke, who live in Birmingham, said they wanted to see those responsible made accountable and for justice to be done.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) called it "a tragic death" and said the investigation was "at an advanced stage".

Mr Meade, originally from Birmingham, was believed to be alone and suffering a mental health episode when he was shot once in the chest by police.

The West Mercia force previously said officers were responding to a report he had a knife. The IOPC has said police deployed distraction devices and at least one Taser before the fatal shot was fired.

Mr Meade, Marcus's father, said: "I'm very angry and I'm frustrated because a year's gone by and I come out of my house and see all the beautiful lights.

"I'll walk down the street with all these lights and I know all these families are having the time of their life, it's Christmas for them."

The build-up now merely served a reminder of his son's death, he added.

Asked if Christmas had lost its meaning, he said: "It's absolutely dead, it's dead."

Ms Clarke denied her son had posed a danger to police.

"We're still waiting [for answers]. Until [police] can be accountable for what they've done, justice is never going to be done," she said.

She suggested, "if this had been a white person, justice would have been done." The IOPC has previously said it would consider race as a factor in Mr Meade's death.

Ms Clarke added: "I just want the person who's done this to be made accountable, and the people above them accountable too.

"I want everybody made accountable for what they've done to my son."

An IOPC spokesperson said: "Our thoughts and sympathies remain with the family and friends of Marcus Meade and all those affected by his tragic death at this difficult time."

"Our investigation is at an advanced stage, with a significant amount of work already undertaken.

"We recently received expert reports which analysed the planning and execution of the firearms operation as well as its tactical delivery and we are now considering our next steps."

It added that it understood that Mr Meade's family seek answers, and said it was "fully committed to ensuring our investigation is as robust and thorough as possible."

West Mercia Police has previously said it was cooperating with the IOPC's investigation.

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