Romford police shooting: Man shot dead 'had air rifle' Published duration 18 April 2018

image copyright Essex Heating Spares image caption CCTV footage recorded at about 04:35 BST on 9 April at Essex Boiler Spares next to the Esso petrol station appears to show Richard Cottier

A man shot dead by police at a petrol station had called them saying he had taken an overdose and had a modified air rifle, the police watchdog said.

Richard Cottier, 41, was said to be making threats in the Collier Row area of Romford, east London, when armed officers arrived, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said.

Mr Cottier died after two shots were fired, post-mortem tests found.

The IOPC, which is investigating the death, said it was speaking to witnesses and had CCTV pictures and body camera footage from Metropolitan Police officers.

IOPC regional director Jonathan Green said: "We are at the very start of piecing together what happened to Mr Cottier and my thoughts are with his family and friends and all those affected by his death."

image copyright PA image caption The IOPC said it appeared Mr Cottier told the police he had a gun

He said it appeared officers responded when Mr Cottier called the police in the early hours saying he had taken an overdose and claiming he had a firearm.

A member of the public also called, reporting there was a man with a firearm in the area.

A post-mortem examination found he died of gunshot injuries. A ballistics expert confirmed the weapon he had been carrying was a modified air rifle, the IOPC said.

Related Topics Romford