# Investigation of Chris Kaba's Shooting

The investigation into the **shooting of Chris Kaba** has sparked significant debate, particularly regarding the decision to **acquit** the firearms officer involved. **Sal Naseem**, who led the inquiry for the Independent Office for Police Conduct (**IOPC**), defended his assessment that there was a possibility of murder, despite the backlash following the officer's trial.

## Key Events Leading to the Shooting

Sgt **Martyn Blake**, a member of the specialist firearms unit MO19, was found **not guilty** of murder last month. This verdict incited protests from the Kaba family. On September 5, 2022, Kaba was shot in the head after attempting to escape a police stop in **south London**. Notably, no firearms were recovered from the Audi he was driving, which had been linked to a **drive-by shooting** the previous day.

During his trial, Sgt Blake stated that he genuinely believed there was an imminent threat to life and did not intend to kill Mr. Kaba. Mr. Naseem articulated his view during an interview with **BBC Panorama**, emphasizing that lethal force should only be used when absolutely necessary: 

> “A police officer can only use lethal force when it’s absolutely necessary.”

## Reactions from Law Enforcement and Family

Following Kaba's death, it was revealed that he was associated with a gang known as the 67 and had prior criminal convictions. His parents, **Helen and Prosper Kaba**, expressed their belief that their son should have stood trial rather than being shot:

> “The role of the police is not to kill.”

The IOPC began investigating within two hours after the shooting to determine if lethal force was justified. By September 9, 2022, they had decided to open a homicide investigation due to rising tensions:

> “Things were on a knife edge.”

Former Met Assistant Commissioner **Neil Basu** scrutinized this decision-making process, suggesting it might have been influenced by external pressure:

> “To come out so early... it seems remarkable that happened so quickly.”

## The Aftermath

The chaotic events leading up to Kaba’s shooting involved multiple police vehicles attempting an armed stop without clear intelligence on who was driving. When Sgt Blake intervened, he fired just **20 seconds** after leaving his vehicle, believing officers were at risk.

In light of these events and their implications for police accountability, reforms have been announced by Home Secretary **Yvette Cooper**, focusing on improving oversight for firearms officers involved in shootings.

As investigations continue, it remains critical to address both community concerns and police accountability in such tragic incidents.