A 61-year-old man who was shot dead by police officers on a major Norfolk road has been formally identified as Tony Keeble from Thetford.
The Incident on the A11
The fatal encounter occurred on the side of the A11 last Sunday evening. Police were called at around 8.30 pm following reports of a road traffic collision. Upon arrival, officers discovered a badly damaged Mercedes van with its airbags deployed, but no one inside.
Witnesses had alerted authorities to a man seen carrying what was described as a black handgun on London Road, heading towards a Sainsbury's supermarket. Armed response units were immediately deployed to the scene.
Confrontation and Shooting
Officers located a man, now named as Tony Keeble, on the roadside shortly before 9 pm. He was ordered to drop his weapon. A short time later, two officers each discharged a single shot.
Keeble was struck and was pronounced dead at the scene. A post-mortem examination has given a provisional cause of death as gunshot wounds to the chest and abdomen. Investigators confirmed that an item, described as a non-police issue firearm, was recovered from the location.
Ongoing Independent Investigation
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has launched a comprehensive inquiry. They are reviewing multiple evidence sources, including:
- Body-worn video footage from the officers involved.
- Dashcam footage from the scene.
- Drone footage and recordings of 999 emergency calls.
The IOPC stated that the officers are currently being treated as witnesses. At this early stage, there is no indication of a breach of professional standards.
The driver of the second vehicle involved in the initial crash, a Honda Jazz, sustained minor injuries but declined hospital treatment.
Police Statement and Call for Transparency
Deputy Chief Constable Dave Marshall of Norfolk Police acknowledged the gravity of the situation. "This is a very serious matter, sadly someone has lost their life, and I understand people will want to know what happened," he said.
He emphasised the force's duty to protect the integrity of the independent IOPC probe, adding that Norfolk Police is cooperating fully with the investigation to ensure full transparency.
The IOPC's investigation continues as they work to establish a complete timeline of the events that led to this fatal police shooting in Norfolk.
