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Police shoot black youth

01 September 1991

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Tension is high in the black community of Hadley, near Telford, in Shropshire after West Mercia police marksmen shot dead a 24 year old black man, Ian Gordon, who had been seen walking around the town with an air rifle. There are conflicting accounts of the shooting with the police claiming that the officers involved believed that their lives were at risk. Eye witness, Claire Middleton, disputes this claiming that the policemen screamed at Gordon to put his gun down and that he replied: "It's only a toy gun, it isn't going to hurt you." Ian's friend, Shazad Khan, also says that he told police that the weapon was harmless and not loaded. After Ian's death there were angry clashes between the community and the police, and four hundred demonstrators marched through Telford in protest at the killing. Ian's family intend to sue West Mercia police for damages, alleging negligence. His younger brother, Garry, has appealed to the Home Secretary to set up an independent inquiry. Guardian, 17.8.91; Observer, 18.8.91; Voice, 20.8.91

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