Tottenham MP David Lammy today spoke of his “deep concern” over the police shooting of a young father as investigators returned to the scene to seek fresh witnesses.
Mr Lammy, speaking after attending a public meeting over the death of Jermaine Baker, described “pain and anger” in the community amid rumours he had been shot while asleep in a car.
Mr Baker, 28, from Tottenham, died during the police operation to thwart an alleged attempt to spring two convicts from a prison van near Wood Green crown court last Friday.
The Independent Police Complaints Commission announced yesterday the firearms officer involved had been arrested and suspended.
Senior officers received an angry reception at a meeting of 150 people at Tottenham town hall last night.
IPCC Comissioner Cindy Butts told the meeting a non-police issue firearm was recovered from inside the Audi in which Mr Baker was sitting, but could not disclose exactly where it was found.
She said there was no CCTV footage available of the moment Mr Baker was shot and confirmed the undercover officers were not wearing body cameras.
Ms Butts said: “We do not know whether he was or was not asleep. I am aware of the concerns and frustrations the community have on this issue.”
She added: “The evidence we have at this stage does not mean the officer definitely committed a criminal act or that he will necessarily be charged with a criminal act.”
She said she would decide whether to pass the case to the Crown Prosecution Service at the end of the investigation.
Mr Lammy told Radio 4’s Today programme: “There was a lot of pain and anger where the rumour on the street was this man was asleep in a car.”
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He said: “I am deeply, deeply concerned. We must be careful we do not smear somone’s character and there is a sense in the community that this comes from the Metropolitan Police.”
Borough comander Victor Olisa said Mr Baker was not on the Met’s gangs database. There were reports today that the investigation focus is on how far Mr Baker was from the imitation gun.
One man, who gave his name as Josh, said: “He was not a gang member. He was shot while asleep in a car.”
Four men have been charged with conspiring to break gangsters Erun Izzet and Erwin Amoyaw-Gyamfi out of the van. Izzet and Amoyaw-Gyamfi were jailed for 14 years each last Friday.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the IPCC on 0800 151 0020 or email bracknellclose@ipcc.gsi.gov.uk.
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