A former soldier shot dead in Coventry by police in an intelligence-led police raid “posed no threat” and was a “very, very good guy”, according to a friend.

Sean Fitzgerald, 31, was shot dead yesterday evening at an address in the West Midlands.

The police watchdog has opened an investigation into the shooting that followed the execution of a warrant at about 6.20pm.

One friend paid tribute to the young man, who is said to have lived locally.

The friend, who gave his name as Ali, said he had been with the "very, very good guy" shortly before he visited the home in Burnaby Road where he was killed.

Ali said he believed his friend presented "no threat or danger", and added: "He's served for all of us - the police, everybody - in the Army up until last year."

A family member wrote online that she was "absolutely gutted" by the death of Mr Fitzgerald, who another friend described as a "one of a kind" who "would be there for anyone".

Investigators from the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) will examine footage from cameras being worn by the officers involved as well as local CCTV.

Announcing the incident, West Midlands Police said: "One man was shot and pronounced dead at the scene while two other men were detained by officers."

The force later added that the two 26-year-old men remained in custody on suspicion of involvement in the production of cannabis.

Fire engineer Karl Lolley, a father-of-two who lives behind the police cordon, said he heard "four or five" gunshots after witnessing officers descend on the home.

"I saw three or four armed police cars turn up. Five to six armed officers got out and they went in the front door. There was some gunshots," the 39-year-old told the Press Association.

"The next thing you know there's more police arriving and they cordon off the area.

"They carry a person out on a stretcher, they put him in an ambulance - the lights on the ambulance were flashing for about half an hour as they were working on him.

"Then they turned the lights off and they drove off slowly. Obviously they pronounced him dead."

A large number of police cars, along with emergency service vehicles, were reported in the area of Burnaby Road, a largely residential street north of the city centre, in the wake of the incident.

Locals were told to go indoors as a section of the street was closed and "over 17 police cars (and) armed police" arrived.

Additional reporting by PA