‘We will not rest’: Family issue statement as Chris Kaba inquest into shooting opens one month after death
The family of Chris Kaba have said they “will not rest” until those who are responsible for his death “are held fully accountable”, on the first day of the inquest into his shooting.
Mr Kaba was shot dead by armed police on September 5, 2022, in Kirkstall Gardens, Streatham, after the Audi car he was driving was followed, as it was believed to be linked to a firearms incident.
The police officer who fired the bullet has been given the name NX121 and has been placed under criminal investigation.
New details from the incident have emerged in a statement made by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), who said that the evidence suggests the officer was standing to the front of the vehicle and shot Mr Kaba through the front windscreen.
The statement said: “The evidence further suggests that officer NX121 was standing to the front of Mr Kaba’s vehicle. A single shot was fired by officer NX121 piercing the front windscreen of the vehicle Mr Kaba was driving and struck him.”
The IOPC statement confirmed that the Audi Mr Kaba was driving was believed to be linked to a firearms incident which took place the previous day and an automatic number plate recognition marker had been placed on it.
Officers were briefed about the Audi before their shift on September 5 but Mr Kaba’s name was not included in this briefing.
The vehicle was recognised by officers parked at the side of the A202 in Camberwell Green, in an unmarked armed response vehicle, who then began to follow and informed other officers in the area.
The IOPC statement said an armed response vehicle was waiting in Kirkstall Gardens “with the intention of joining the other police vehicles behind the Audi once it had passed the junction”.
The officers made a decision to perform an “inline extraction” and exited their vehicles to approach the Audi, the statement said. It confirmed the evidence suggested contact was made between the Audi driven by Mr Kaba and the police vehicles.
The IOPC declined to explain what an “inline extraction” is, or whether it is standard policy for armed response units to aim for the head.
On behalf of Mr Kaba’s family, Jefferson Bosela, his cousin, said: “Today’s hearing was another step in achieving justice for Chris.
“Tomorrow, 5 October, marks exactly one month since Chris was shot dead by a police officer while sitting, unarmed, in a car.
“Ever since that terrible moment my family, and everyone that knew him are asking one question: why?
“My cousin Chris was very much loved by us. His loss is with us every day. He had a bright future ahead of him – his first child was about to be born. That his life was cut short by a police officer is a tragedy.
“We will not rest until the people responsible for Chris’ death are held fully accountable.”
Pictured top: Chris Kaba (Picture: Family handout)
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There’s an inquest and an investigation. Nothing more can or should be done until those are finished. Indeed, it would be good to see less reporting until then.