Update on fatal police shooting of Chris Kaba

Our investigators are working hard to collate and review a large amount of evidence as our homicide investigation progresses into the fatal shooting in Lambeth, south London of Chris Kaba.

Mr Kaba, aged 24, was fatally shot on 5 September by a Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) officer in Streatham Hill.

We are conducting a criminal investigation into this police officer in relation to Mr Kaba’s death.

When a person dies in these circumstances, the law requires us to conduct a wide-ranging independent investigation. Therefore, we must explore all of the circumstances surrounding Mr Kaba’s death including: how the officers came to be aware of the vehicle Mr Kaba was driving; if they had any prior knowledge of Mr Kaba; and their decision-making and actions on the 5 September.

We will also examine whether or not Mr Kaba’s race influenced any actions taken by the police.

IOPC Regional Director Sal Naseem says our focus is on progressing a thorough and effective investigation and our priority is to communicate with the family and update them as
the investigation develops.

“We fully appreciate that Chris Kaba’s devastated family and the community have a lot of unanswered questions about his death.

“We have been in further contact with Chris’s family this week to answer a number of questions they have and to offer them privately and confidentially the opportunity to view
video footage as soon as it is practicable.

“We have also advised Chris’s family that we aim to complete our investigation within six to nine months.

“We understand that people want answers quickly, but this is a complex investigation involving a significant amount of evidence. There are a number of enquiries to carry out over the coming weeks and months, including expert analysis, and it is important that we allow our investigation to run its course as we seek to establish all of the facts.

“As this is a criminal investigation, we will continue to be limited in what details we can release as we can’t risk prejudicing any proceedings that may follow. Given this is a homicide investigation, we are liaising with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and we have already had discussions with the Senior Coroner and his officers.”

A post-mortem examination was completed last Friday and the preliminary medical cause of death was given as a gunshot wound to the head. The Senior Coroner has this week
advised that the inquest will be opened in public at 9.45am on Tuesday 4 October.

Following the completion of our investigation and after careful analysis, the law requires us to produce a detailed final report that accurately summarises all relevant evidence before we
can decide whether to refer a file of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service, whose role it would be to determine whether or not criminal charges will follow. We will also decide
whether or not the officer involved has a case to answer for gross misconduct or misconduct.