Image Text:

FATALLY SHOT: Jermaine Baker

A POLICE firearms officer has been suspended and could face prosecution following the fatal shooting of 28-year-old Jermaine Baker.

The father-of-two from Tottenham, north London, died from a single gunshot wound during a police operation near Wood Green Crown Court on Friday (Dec 12).

A stand-off with police after attempts to help gang members Izzet Eren, 32, and Erwin Amoyaw-Gyamfi, 29, to escape on their way to court resulted in Baker being killed, it has been reported.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) said it has launched a criminal homicide investigation into the death. This could see the police face murder or manslaughter charges.

Friends of Baker said they were shocked and confused by what had happened, and were still coming to terms with his death.
“I just started crying,’ his childhood friend Charlotte Asar, 26, told The Metro. “I couldn’t believe it. I was surprised how emotional I was, but I was absolutely devastated.”

She said she was unsure how Jermaine became caught up in the incident in Wood Green.
“He was never loud or in trouble with the law or part of a bad crowd,’ Charlotte added. ‘That’s why I don’t understand why he was where he was when he was shot.”

The highly unusual move to launch a criminal homicide investigation marks an escalation in the IPCC investigation and a spokesman from Scotland Yard told The Telegraph it was "not routine".

A statement from Scotland Yard read: "The Metropolitan Police Service has been in dialogue with the Independent Police Complaints Commission regarding the change in status of their investigation into the death of Mr Jermaine Baker.

"We have agreed to their suggestion that a firearms officer be suspended."
The development comes after four men appeared in court in connection with the alleged plot to free the two convicts from a prison van.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner, Peter Terry, from Specialist Crime and Operations, who is the senior officer leading post incident, said: "The exact circumstances that led to Mr. Baker's death must be thoroughly and independently examined. That is the role of the IPCC. It is only through establishing the full facts, as quickly as possible, as to what took place that day that the best interests of justice and of all those affected can be served.

"As this is an ongoing investigation we must all await the IPCC's findings before drawing any conclusions or speculating on what has taken place.

"All of our firearms officers, who are all volunteers, do a job that is difficult and often dangerous. They all fully understand, quite rightly, that they will need to account for their actions if they use lethal force.

"The IPCC will receive our fullest possible support with their investigation.”