A man who was shot dead by police last night had threatened to kill a woman and a police officer, the Gazette understands.
A Met marksman shot the knife-wielding 40-year-old in Shepperton Road at about 1am today after he had taken a woman hostage in her own home.
It is believed that the woman, who was escorted from the scene by police officers and treated for shock, had a restraining order in force against her attacker due to a history of domestic abuse.
Police deployed a negotiator, and witnesses said they used a distraction grenade which sounded “like fireworks” before shooting the man, who is believed to have been born in Islington.
The incident is the first fatal shooting by a Met marksman since the death of Tottenham man Mark Duggan in 2011, which led to riots across London.
Lyssa Barber, a neighbour, said: “I was woken up to shouts and immediately afterwards to what sounded like four or five bangs. They were gunshots.
“I think I heard five gunshots, but a gunshot in real life doesn’t sound like it does on TV. It sounded like loud bangs on a door. Bang, bang, bang. Then I realised, if it’s somebody banging on the door, why can I hear it?
“We saw the ambulance and police. There were eight police vehicles I could see from my window, and I saw five armed officers.
“The ambulance arrived as I was looking out of my window. Police came out of the house. We could see someone being led away. I’m fairly sure they were wearing pink and had to be supported by officers.”
She said she was shocked such a scene could unfold on her doorstep.
Met Commander Neil Basu, said: “We believe that the man and woman were known to each other - at this stage we cannot confirm the exact relationship, no other people were involved in last night’s inciden.
“The man’s next of kin have yet to be informed - at this stage all I will confirm is that he is a 40-year-old black man, thought to be born in Islington.
“As this is a fatal shooting by police officers, the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards were informed immediately and attended the scene, and we have made a mandatory referral to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.
“The firearms officers are now going through the Post Incident Procedure.”
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