
Former Premier League footballer Dalian Atkinson attempted to murder his 85-year-old father before police Tasered him to death, it has been claimed.

Eyewitnesses reported seeing the 48-year-old drunkenly stumbling towards officers shouting 'I am the Messiah' before being shot 'four or five times', even when he had fallen to the floor. Witnesses accused the police of being 'trigger happy' and claimed officers waited up to 20 minutes to call an ambulance.

One said they appeared to kick Atkinson whilst he was on the floor.

Another said Atkinson – a regular visitor to the property but understood to be living with a friend – screamed that he was homeless and appeared to be trying to kick his father’s front door down.

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Tragic: The 48-year-old man who died after being Tasered by police has been named locally as former Aston Villa footballer Dalian Atkinson (pictured in August 1992)

Speaking from his home in Telford, Atkinson's father said: 'He was in a real state. I don't know if he was drunk or on drugs but he was very agitated and his mind was upset'. Forensic experts are pictured at the scene this morning

From back left, former footballers Nick Barmby, Jamie Redknapp, Dalian Atkinson (circled), and from front left, Ray Parlour, Chris Waddle, Paul Ince and Gary Speed share a Jacuzzi

Brother Kenroy told how Atkinson, who had been suffering depression after dialysis treatment for kidney failure, tried to strangle his elderly father Ernest at his home in Telford, Shropshire.

Kenroy, 53, told The Sun: 'My brother had lost it. He was in a manic state and depressed — out of his mind and ranting. He had a tube in his shoulder for the dialysis and he had ripped it out and was covered in blood.

'He got dad by the throat and said he was going to kill him. He told dad he had already killed me, our brother Paul and sister Elaine and he had come for him. He was not in his right mind.'

The former Aston Villa striker went into cardiac arrest in an ambulance. He was pronounced dead in hospital 90 minutes later. His father yesterday confirmed Atkinson appeared to have been either on drink or on drugs.

Atkinson (pictured receiving a massage as a Sheffield Wednesday player) had been visiting his elderly father Ernest and a next door neighbour said today how the 85-year-old kept saying 'he's gone, my boy is dead'

Atkinson was said to have been due at a private hospital in Manchester today for a medical appointment.

West Mercia Police, whose officers rushed to the scene, amid 'concerns for the safety of an individual', declined to comment on the allegations because the incident has been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) which is to carry out a 'full and thorough investigation' into officers' actions.

IPCC deputy chairman Rachel Cerfontyne said that an investigation team had met with Mr Atkinson's family to explain their role probing officers' actions.

Atkinson, who made his name playing for Aston Villa in England's top flight in the 1990s, was 'very agitated' shortly before officers discharged the Taser, his elderly father Ernest has said.

Atkinson's 31-year-old nephew, Fabian (pictured left), today criticised police for using 'excessive force'. Eyewitness Paula Quinn (right), 44, claimed the Taser was discharged numerous times by an officer even after Atkinson fell to the floor

He had been visiting the 85-year-old at the time and a next door neighbour told how Atkinson's father repeatedly said this morning: 'He's gone, my boy is dead'. Others said the former Ipswich Town and Sheffield Wednesday player had a weak heart and had suffered from kidney failure in the past.

Neighbours claimed to see Atkinson banging on his father's door and 'shouting about being homeless' in the lead up to his death. He then went down 'like a lead balloon' after being hit by the Taser, an eyewitness said.

Speaking from his home in Telford the former footballer's father said: 'He was in a real state. I don't know if he was drunk or on drugs but he was very agitated and his mind was upset.

'The last thing he said to me was "don't move" when the police came to the door. He was threatening and very upset. I didn't call the police but someone else did.

'He got tasered in the street outside in the road. I didn't see him but I saw a flash. I haven't had any sleep and cannot take it in. The police are dealing with this now.'

Eyewitnesses reported seeing the 48-year-old drunkenly stumbling towards officers in a 'non-threatening' manner before being shot 'four or five times'. Forensic teams are pictured inspecting a broken glass door at the scene of the tragedy

Forensic officers inspect a Porsche Cayenne, believed to belong to Atkinson, at an address in the Trench area of Telford

Eyewitness Paula Quinn, 44, claimed the Taser was discharged numerous times by an officer even after Atkinson fell to the floor.

She said: 'I was up and about and I could hear a car alarm going off. It was Dalian's Porsche alarm.

'I heard shouting and that's when I looked out the window and saw the two police officers and the gentleman, who I now know was Dalian.

'He was walking toward them, not aggressively, he appeared to be drunk or something. They warned him they were going to Taser him and he appeared to be stumbling forwards.

'Then he was Tasered and he fell to the floor. I heard the taser go off again a number out times, at least four or five, when he was on he ground.

‘Afterwards the two police officers starting kicking him around his body. I heard the Taser go off again a number out times, at least four or five, when he was on the ground.

'There wasn't any noise coming from the gentlemen anymore. The ambulance arrived 10 to 15 minutes after and they worked on him for 15 minutes. He was wheeled off and appeared to be unconscious.'

Another resident, who did not wish to be named, said the officers could ‘easily have restrained’ Atkinson outside the house in the Trench area of Telford. He added that he was the victim of a 'trigger-happy police officer.’

Atkinson's 31-year-old nephew, Fabian, today criticised police for using 'excessive force'.

One neighbour, who did not want to be named, said: 'I found out what had happened last night, when I heard the commotion outside - it was frightening'

Neighbours described hearing 'a lot of shouting and police' outside the home in Telford (pictured) at around 1.30am

He said: 'Nobody deserves being Tasered in such a way without due care. I think these situations are sprung by fear.

'It was an argument, I don't know what it was for but I think it was an argument between family. Apparently he stumbled and then they tasered him. This is one thing that has got me angry because of the way the police operated.

'I know they will just push it under the carpet the best they can.

'I'm frustrated, annoyed, shocked and overwhelmed. They didn't need to use such excessive force.'

The force declined to comment on claims by witnesses that Atkinson had been shot multiple times or kicked on the ground.

The National Police Chiefs' Council - which represents senior police - say that 'officers who are trained and equipped with Taser must decide on the most reasonable and necessary use of force in the circumstances'.

The guidance adds: 'The level of force used must be proportionate to achieve the objective and officers are individually accountable in law for the amount of force they use on a person.'

TALE OF TWO ATKINSONS Confusion: Baroness Karren Brady West Ham vice-chairman and star of The Apprentice, Karren Brady, is once said to have confused Dalian Atkinson as the son of his namesake and then Aston Villa manager Ron. The 77-year-old claimed the pair were taking part in a photo shoot before Villa played Manchester United in the 1994 League Cup final. Atkinson told BBC Sport of his exchange with the then managing director of Birmingham City: 'We're having lunch and she's reading the programme. She is going through how good our squad is at Villa and she says: "Oh the number 10, Atkinson, your son's in the team". 'I hadn't got the heart to tell her.' Advertisement

Fabian Atkinson said his uncle 'had a few problems with drink', adding: 'He was having dialysis for kidney problems, he was just getting himself back together with that and that is why his heart was weaker.'

Another family friend said the former footballer had only just come out of hospital a few days ago.

Neighbours described hearing 'a lot of shouting and police' outside the family home at around 1.30am.

Several claimed he had been trying to kick in the door of his family home while his father barricaded himself inside.

One neighbour, who did not want to be named, said: 'I found out what had happened last night, when I heard the commotion outside - it was frightening.

'There was a lot of banging and shouting, and doors being kicked in.

'Dalian was shouting about being homeless, he wanted his dad to let him in - but his dad wouldn't so he was kicking the door. I have no idea why, or what they were fighting about.

'Then someone phoned the police, and they came - I don't know exactly what happened after that, but it's very tragic.

'I've known Dalian since he was a baby. Dalian is a lovely lad - he was always a very nice boy and very nice to talk to.

'His mum died some years ago, and he went away when he was young to do his training as a footballer - he was very successful.'

Speaking from her end-terraced home in Wellington, Telford, Atkinson's niece Sabrina Atkinson, 28, said: 'He was a legend obviously back in his day.

'And he was a really really nice man. We are all a close family.

'I last saw him a few months ago but it's my dad that sees him all the time really. I'm going to see him later. It's just a bit too soon really.'

Tributes have begun flooding in from current and former players. Former England defender Sol Campbell tweeted: 'What?! Former @AVFCOfficial footballer Dalian Atkinson tasered?! Shocked & saddened by this news. Thoughts with friends & family. #RIPDalian.'

Ron Atkinson, who was the mastermind behind Villa's League Cup victory in 1994 - a game in which Atkinson opened the scoring - described his former player as an 'immense talent.'

He said: 'Obviously it's tragic. This is something you can't comprehend really.

'Dalian was a player with immense talent and he had a habit of coming good in big games. He was a scorer of great goals.

'He had terrific ability. I always knew I didn't need to worry about him in big games.

'I still believe that if he hadn't got injured just before Christmas in the first year of the Premier League then we would've won it, as him and Dean Saunders were the best partnership in the league at that time.

'Probably the most important goal he got for us was in the first leg of the [1994 League Cup] semi-final against Tranmere when he scored with the last kick of the match. And he got us on terms in the second leg.

'He was very popular amongst the rest of the boys, who was always really generous.

'He was a very jolly lad and was always smiling.'

Atkinson was a top flight striker in the 1990s. He is fondly remembered for a goal he scored for 1992-1993 league runners-up Aston Villa against Wimbledon, which followed a mazy run from inside his own half. It was voted goal of the season

Former manager Ron Atkinson (right), who was the mastermind behind Villa's League Cup victory in 1994 - a game in which Atkinson (left) opened the scoring - told the Birmingham Mail: 'This is an out-and-out tragedy'

Once described as ‘one of the fastest players ever seen’, the 6ft footballer enjoyed a successful four years at Aston Villa

Scene: Neighbours took to Facebook to express their shock, with one describing 'a lot of shouting and police' at a home in Telford at around 1.30am

Former England striker and Match Of The Day presenter Gary Lineker described Atkinson as a 'fine footballer', while the official Villa twitter feed carried four images of the player with the caption: 'You'll never be forgotten."

Villa's new owner, Dr Tony Xia, tweeted a clip of Atkinson's famous 1992 solo effort against Wimbledon.

He wrote: 'Sad news! That ball was one the one of best memories for me! #Ripdalian'

Mark Bosnich, who played in goal for Villa in the cup final, wrote on Twitter: 'RIP Dalian Atkinson, at his best one of the very best. xmb'

Current Villa star Jack Grealish tweeted: 'RIP Dalian Atkinson. Loved watching videos of him & always remember his great goal vs Wimbledon. My thoughts are with his family and friends.'

GUIDANCE ON TASER USE The National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) - which represents senior police - say that 'officers who are trained and equipped with Taser must decide on the most reasonable and necessary use of force in the circumstances'. The guidance adds: 'The level of force used must be proportionate to achieve the objective and officers are individually accountable in law for the amount of force they use on a person.' Taser officers are trained to always use the minimum duration of discharge necessary to bring a violent situation to a close. Usually a single 5-second (or shorter) discharge is sufficient, the NPCC says. Advertisement

Club legend Paul McGrath added: 'Don't feel to gud at the moment [sic], Dalian Atkinson was a huge part of the Villa family I played with lovely kid and friend R.I.P pal Xx.'

Former winger Tony Daley, who was instrumental in the cup victory, added: 'Devastating news...RIP Dalian'.

The Football Association offered its condolences, tweeting: 'We are saddened to hear of the passing of former England B international Dalian Atkinson. Our thoughts are with his family and friends.'

Officers from West Mercia Police had rushed to the scene in Telford amid concerns 'for the safety of an individual'.

When police arrived they used a Taser on 48-year-old Atkinson. The ex-footballer received emergency medical attention but was pronounced dead at around 3am.

Photographs show around a dozen police officers surrounding the property as the drama unfolded.

West Mercia Police said the force was unable to provide a detailed explanation as to why they were called as the incident has been automatically referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

The force said it would assist the IPCC with its enquiries.

In a statement, the IPCC said 'a full and thorough investigation' was taking place.

'At this stage the IPCC is aware a Taser was used on the man before he became ill,' it said.

'IPCC investigators are at the scene gathering the available information and are attending the post-incident procedures to supervise the recovery of initial evidence.'

Next door neighbour Lascelles Rose, 73, said: 'I spoke to his dad this morning, he phoned me to tell me the sad news.

Former Aston Villa manager Ron Atkinson holding the League Cup with Atkinson in 1994

Atkinson was a top flight striker in the 1990s. He is fondly remembered for a goal he scored for 1992-1993 league runners-up Aston Villa against Wimbledon

Aston Villa player Jack Grealish was among those to tweet condolences along with club legend Paul McGrath

Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker paid tribute to Atkinson (pictured left) along with the Football Association (right)

Villa's new owner, Dr Tony Xia, tweeted (left) a clip of Atkinson's famous 1992 solo effort against Wimbledon. Former winger Tony Daley, who was instrumental in the cup victory, added (right): 'Devastating news...RIP Dalian'

In a final tweet, sent in January 2014, Atkinson wrote on his Twitter account: 'See you later guys. It's been emotional!'

'ONE OF THE FASTEST PLAYERS EVER SEEN': HOW DALIAN ATKINSON MADE HIS NAME In action: Atkinson was once described as ‘one of the fastest players ever seen’ By Emma Glanfield for MailOnline He played for a host of top-flight clubs and formed a deadly strike partnership with popular Welsh forward Dean Saunders. But it was his magnificent long-running spell at Aston Villa for which Dalian Atkinson really made his name. Once described as ‘one of the fastest players ever seen’, the 6ft footballer enjoyed a successful four years at the Birmingham-based club – making 114 appearances for the Claret and Blues and netting 23 goals. Cementing himself as a fan favourite, he will be fondly remembered for his crucial goal against Manchester United at Wembley which secured his team’s win in the 1994 League Cup final. Others also recall his magnificent solo goal against Wimbledon in a 3-2 away win on 3 October 1992, which won a BBC Match of the Day Goal of the Season competition for the 1992-93 season. The centre-forward picked the ball up well inside his own half before gliding past a stream of Dons defenders and chipping goalkeeper Hans Segers from 25 yards. The goal - and the celebration with a member of the crowd holding an umbrella - became the stuff of Villa legend, long after Atkinson was sold to Fenerbahce three seasons later. It was a credit to Atkinson’s importance to the side that then-manager Ron Atkinson attributed his namesake’s injury in the Premiership’s maiden season to the reason why Villa tailed off and finished second to Manchester United. Born in Telford, Shropshire in 1968, Atkinson first burst onto the footballing scene as a teenager at Ipswich Town, where he made 60 appearances and netted 18 goals over four years. One of his earliest moments of brilliance saw him bang in a hat trick against Middlesbrough when he was just 20-years-old. He later enjoyed brief spells at Sheffield Wednesday and Spanish side Real Sociedad before moving to Villa for £1.6million in July 1991. Fond memories: Dalian Atkinson scored a magnificent solo goal against Wimbledon in a 3-2 away win on 3 October 1992, which won a BBC Match of the Day Goal of the Season competition for the 1992-93 season He scored almost two dozen Premier League goals for the Birmingham side between 1991 and 1995 and became one half of an impressive partnership, the so-called D-Men (AKA Deadly Duo). Teaming up with Dean Saunders, who arrived from Liverpool a year after Atkinson arrived at Villa, the pair quickly established themselves as one of the most dynamic duos in the Premier League at that time. However, the budding partnership, was broken up in 1995 when both players were sold to Turkish clubs - Saunders to Galatasaray and Atkinson to Fenerbahçe for £1.7 million. Atkinson enjoyed an encouraging start to his new life abroad, but ultimately failed to settle in Turkey and had loan spells with FC Metz and Manchester City. Eventually he left the country in 1997 and began winding down his career with spells in Saudi Arabia and South Korea, before finally retiring as a player in 2001. He then returned to England where he set up a sports consultancy, called Players Come First, for clubs, players and agents. He appeared to run the business from his Birmingham house, outside which he was Tasered overnight. But over the last few years the company appears to have wound down and Companies House now lists it as being dissolved. Advertisement

'He was so upset, he just kept telling me "he's gone" and "my boy is dead" - he is just so heartbroken.

'Dalian had been in hospital recently for a couple of months, he had been poorly but I don't know what with.

'He went to school with my three children and I've known him his whole life, he was a good man who would always be friendly and say hello.

'I used to watch him playing football in the street and you could tell then he had something special.

'He was one hell of a football player and a top man. I am just in complete shock trying to process what had happened.

'He was never a trouble-maker or anything like that and the police had never been round there before - I just can't understand why this has happened.

'Dalian didn't live there anymore but he did visit quite a bit, he always kept in touch with his parents and would come and see them whoever he played for.

'It is such a tragedy. He was such a talent and such a lovely man.'

Dalian was a player with immense talent and he had a habit of coming good in big games. He was a scorer of great goals Atkinson's former manager at Aston Villa, Ron Atkinson

Another neighbour, who did not want to be named, said: 'I had known him since he was a little boy, he was a famous footballer at one time. He was friendly, he had no trouble that I know of.'

Atkinson was a top flight striker in the 1990s. He is fondly remembered for a goal he scored for 1992-1993 league runners-up Aston Villa against Wimbledon, which followed a mazy run from inside his own half. It was voted goal of the season.

He went on to score at Wembley in 1994 as Villa beat Manchester United to lift the League Cup.

Starting his career at Ipswich he played for Sheffield Wednesday and Spanish side Real Sociedad before moving to Villa.

He scored more than 20 Premier League goals for the Birmingham side between 1991 and 1995 before going on to play less successfully for teams including Turkish side Fenerbahce and Manchester City.

Atkinson ended his playing career playing in South Korea in 2001.

Along the way, he broke ground as Spanish club Real Sociedad's first black player - something he would recall was not popular with sections of the home contingent.

During an interview in 2013, he said: 'Now you might get half a dozen lads making racist chants and the focus is on them, but back then you'd have the entire ground singing in harmony.'

Life after football proved a further challenge for Atkinson, according to his former friend and team-mate Carlton Palmer.

'It can be difficult for players when they finish and I know Dalian found it difficult,' Palmer said.

'Footballers don't know anything else. Dalian would not have finished his career financially secure and he was scratching around doing stuff.

'When you finish as a footballer, all of a sudden at 34 or 35 you have no routine and no structure to your life and that can be a major problem.

'It can be a very dangerous spiral and unfortunately that's what it was for Dalian.'

Police cordon: Officers from West Mercia Police had been called to a home in Telford (pictured) at around 1.30am this morning amid concerns 'for the safety of an individual'

West Mercia Police said the force was unable to comment any further as the incident has been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission as per normal procedure

In a statement, the Independent Police Complaints Commission said 'a full and thorough investigation' was taking place

The scene in Telford where former footballer Dalian Atkinson was Tasered by police in the early hours of Monday morning

A Taser was deployed during the incident. Atkinson suffered a cardiac arrest and was later pronounced dead in hospital

Atkinson scored more than 20 Premier League goals for Aston Villa (right) between 1991 and 1995 before going on to play less successfully for teams including Turkish side Fenerbahce and Manchester City (left), the latter on loan from 1996-97

Atkinson owned a sports consultancy business, Players Come First, from 2009 until it was dissolved in November 2015, and also worked with community projects in the Telford area where he grew up.

Speaking three years ago about the Templegate Training football scheme for unemployed youngsters in Aston, Atkinson said: 'They look disheartened, as though they're in a dead end and they've had so many knockbacks.

'But you've got to keep on going, you've got no choice. You've got to keep trying.'

Ipswich Town paid tribute on its Twitter feed, saying: 'Terribly sad news about our former striker. Our thoughts are with Dalian's family and friends at this tragic time.'

Sheffield Wednesday said on the social media site: 'The thoughts of everyone at Wednesday are with the friends and family of Dalian Atkinson this morning. RIP.'

When you finish as a footballer...it can be a very dangerous spiral and unfortunately that's what it was for Dalian Atkinson's former friend and team-mate Carlton Palmer

The incident follows the death of ex-soldier Spencer Beynon in June. He was Tasered by police in Llanelli, South Wales, after stabbing a dog and then himself.

Friends said he had suffered mental health problems after leaving the military.

Last year police use of Tasers, which are intended as a non-lethal weapon, went up slightly towards the end of 2015 with 10,329 uses by forces in England and Wales, a 2 per cent rise on the previous year.

However, of those, 19 per cent (1,921) were discharges; a decrease of 3 per cent from the previous year.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: 'We were called by West Mercia Police to an address in Meadow Close in the Trench area of Telford at about 1.45am this morning.

'An ambulance was dispatched and upon arrival found a man who had been Tasered.

'As he was being conveyed to Princess Royal Hospital, his condition deteriorated and he went into cardiac arrest.

'Despite the efforts of the crew and hospital staff, it was not possible to save him and he was confirmed dead at hospital, shortly after arrival.'

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