A man is dead after being shot by police on London Road in Thetford, a quiet stretch of highway now the focus of intense scrutiny. The incident unfolded quickly, transforming an ordinary Sunday evening into a scene of tragedy and unanswered questions.
Reports began flooding in to police from concerned citizens who described seeing a man openly carrying a black handgun. He was spotted walking along the southbound carriageway of the A11, heading in the opposite direction of traffic, towards a nearby supermarket.
Armed response units were immediately dispatched, converging on the location near the Brandon Road roundabout. Officers approached the man, and within moments, shots were fired. Despite the rapid response of paramedics, the man was pronounced dead at the scene.
The circumstances surrounding the shooting are now the subject of a full investigation, led by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). The Norfolk Police force has voluntarily referred the incident to the IOPC, a standard procedure in cases involving police-involved fatalities.
Deputy Chief Constable Dave Marshall emphasized the gravity of the situation, acknowledging the public’s need for answers while stressing the importance of maintaining the integrity of the independent investigation. He confirmed full cooperation with the IOPC, including the handover of crucial evidence.
That evidence includes body-worn video footage from the officers involved, recordings of emergency 999 calls, and drone footage captured during the incident. Authorities are committed to complete transparency as the investigation progresses.
Assistant Chief Constable David Buckley sought to reassure the community, acknowledging the understandable concern the incident would cause. He highlighted the rarity of such events, noting that police officers are deployed to hundreds of firearms-related calls annually, but discharges are thankfully infrequent.
The IOPC confirmed its investigators were dispatched to the scene shortly after the shooting, which occurred just before 9:40 PM on Sunday. Their initial focus is on gathering evidence and establishing a clear timeline of events.
The A11 remains closed in both directions, stretching from the Thetford Ranges roundabout to the Brandon Road roundabout, causing significant disruption to traffic. The road closure is expected to continue as investigators meticulously examine the scene.
The investigation is in its earliest stages, and many questions remain unanswered. What prompted the man to carry a handgun? What led to the confrontation with police? These are the critical details investigators are now working to uncover.
