Driver ‘in his 60s’ shot dead by armed police after car crash had ‘pointed handgun at girl before running through housing estate’

After the accident, the driver, who was shot and killed by armed police, was seen pointing a gun at a girl, then running through a public housing and running away from the scene.

Witnesses said they saw the man brandishing a gun following a collision between a car and a Mercedes van on London Road in Thetford, Norfolk, at 8.25pm ​​on Sunday.

Armed response officers raided the scene and the suspect, believed to be in his 60s, was shot half a mile from the crash.

First aid was administered but he was pronounced dead at the scene shortly before 10.15pm.

The shooting took place after members of the public saw a man carrying a black gun heading towards a Sainsbury’s store on London Road.

He was approached by police as he walked northbound on the southbound carriageway of the A11.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) launched an investigation into the incident.

Yesterday the watchdog confirmed two shots were fired by police shortly before 9pm on Sunday.

Police said a man believed to be the driver of one of the vehicles left the scene with what was said to be a handgun. He was shot and died at the scene

It is not yet known whether the two drivers involved in the accident knew each other.

Witnesses claim they saw the man “point a gun at a girl” before walking through a nearby housing estate, according to The Sun.

IOPC director Amanda Rowe said: ‘Fatal police assaults are rare, but when they do occur it is essential that an independent investigation is carried out into the actions and decision-making of the officers involved.

‘Our investigation is in its early stages and we are in the process of gathering and examining evidence as we begin to piece together the circumstances surrounding this incident.’

Busy A11 It passes retail parks, fast food restaurants and an industrial area where people work through the night.

There is no road leading from the housing estate directly opposite the cemetery, and there is no road leading directly onto London Road from either side of the cemetery.

Aerial footage shows the scene of the A11 dual carriageway near Thetford, where a suspected gunman was shot dead by police following a crash

Officers were called to London Road (pictured) at around 8.25pm ​​on Sunday after receiving reports of a two-vehicle collision.

Assistant Chief Constable David Buckley, of Norfolk Police, added: ‘We understand this incident will cause concern in the community.

‘Our highly trained armed officers attend hundreds of firearms-related calls each year, but incidents where police discharge firearms are thankfully incredibly rare.

‘A full and independent investigation is already underway.

‘We are of course cooperating fully with the IOPC investigation and will hand over full body images and 999 calls to ensure transparency.

‘We are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.’