Protests have taken place across the country following the fatal police shooting of Chris Kaba. The unarmed 24-year-old was killed earlier this month after a chase in Streatham, South London, while driving a blue Audi. An autopsy found he died of a gunshot wound to the head. Amidst community unrest, the Independent Office for Policing conduct takes over a homicide investigation and the firearms officer has been suspended.
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Investigators will look into whether race was a factor, police said. A demonstration organized by Kaba’s family began in London at 12 noon on Saturday. It started in Parliament Square and then moved to Scotland Yard. Photos shared on social media showed Black Lives Matter activists gathering outside Nova Scotia Yard at midday with signs reading “Justice for Chris Kampa.” Former Labor leader Jeremy Corbyn was among those protesting. It follows protests last week, which included support from musician Stormzy and Labor MPs Bell Ribeiro-Addy and Harriet Harman. Demonstrations are also taking place in other cities, including Manchester and Cardiff, as part of the national day of action. It comes as Mr Kaba’s family asked to see body camera footage of the incident. Mr Kaba’s cousin, Jefferson Bosela, said: “The family is urgently demanding to see body camera footage and aerial footage from the helicopter.” He also blamed the Independent Office for Policing Conduct, saying they had been “extremely vague” which was “disturbing”. He also said the family was unhappy that it took a week to suspend the officer. Mr Kaba, who was due to become a father, died when the Audi he was driving was cornered by two police vehicles in Kirkstall Gardens and a round was fired. Scotland Yard initially resisted calls from Mr Kaba’s family for the officer involved to be suspended. But on Monday the officer was suspended after a huge public outcry.
