James Wilson, 24, dies four days after he was shot by firearms officer, according to IPCC

This article is more than 4 years old

This article is more than 4 years old

A 24-year-old man shot by a firearms officer on Tuesday has died, the police watchdog has said.



James Wilson, from South Shields, died in hospital from his wounds on Friday, the Independent Police Complaints Commission said.

The IPCC commissioner, Carl Gumsley, said: “Our thoughts are with James’s friends and family at this very difficult time.”

Armed police were called to Frenchmans Way, South Shields, South Tyneside, at about 1am on Tuesday after receiving reports of a man holding a handgun.

The police watchdog is investigating the incident, in which Northumbria police officers apparently told Wilson to “put the gun down” before shooting him. Wilson, also known as Cornet, is believed to have been shot once in the chest.

The IPCC has said a non-police weapon was recovered from the scene.

Investigators from the watchdog travelled to the north-east to “supervise post-incident procedures for the police officers involved” and interview people who lived nearby.

On Wednesday, a local man said his girlfriend heard police shout “put the gun down”, then moments later heard a bang. He knew Wilson.

The man said: “I came out and there were police with guns walking up and down in body armour, like they were securing the area. I thought they were looking for a gunman.

“Police were working on the man for about 10 minutes, giving him oxygen. Then they let the ambulance in and after about five minutes they took him to hospital.”



