A senior Met Police officer has acknowledged the local community will want answers after the fatal shooting of a rapper following a police chase.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is investigating into the death Chris Kaba on Monday evening.
A single shot was fired from the gun of an armed officer with the rapper dying just hours later in hospital.
Five police vehicles and a police helicopter cornered him in his Audi Kirkstall Gardens at 9.50pm before the fatal shot was fired.
Mr Kaba had been part of MOBO-nominated drill rap group 67 who his family said had been visiting friends in the Streatham area when armed police stopped him.
Commander Alexis Boon said: “I would like to express my sincere condolences to the family and friends of the man who died and I recognise the devastating and lasting impact this tragic incident will have on them.
“I understand that this incident is extremely concerning and I would like to reassure the community that the Met is co-operating fully with the IOPC as they carry out a thorough and independent investigation.
“I also recognise that the community wants answers about what happened, however it is important that we allow the IOPC’s investigators the time and space they need to carry out their enquiries.
“I have met with key partners and community members, in order to ensure we are actively working together to engage with and to reassure the public at this difficult time.”
Investigators have been trawling police bodycam footage and CCTV evidence after armed police officers shot dead a father to be in south London as his family called for answers.
Mr Kaba had been part of MOBO-nominated drill rap group 67 who his family said had been visiting friends in the Streatham area when armed police stopped him.
The IOPC has spoken to the officers involved in the stop and have said the inquiry was likely to be lengthy.
The rapper’s mother Elaine told Mail Online: “I’ve lost my son, I’m heartbroken. I keep asking why? Why did the police do this was there no other way?”
His father Prosper added: ‘We just don’t understand what happened. Why didn’t they shoot him in the leg, they could’ve done that. Why did they have to kill him?”
Floral tributes have been left at the scene as forensics officers continue to comb the area for evidence.
Kimberley Alleyne, 49, who visited the crime scene, said her daughter Karima Waite was expecting his child and the couple were to be married.
She said: “He was a fiance, he was due to get married in five months’ time. He’s got a baby on the way that he’s never going to see.”
Ms Alleyne said her daughter was in “a tremendous amount of pain” and called for a thorough investigation into the circumstances of his death.
A statement from the IOPC said: “We have been securing key evidence, including footage from the police vehicles and a police helicopter which was in the area, as well as officers’ body worn video.
“A detailed search of the scene and surrounding area is continuing this evening. We are taking steps to identify and secure relevant CCTV from the area and have conducted house to house enquiries in the neighbourhood, which we will continue in the coming days. We attended the police post incident procedures where the officers involved provided their initial accounts of the incident.
“We can confirm one shot was fired from a police issue firearm, which will be subject to further analysis.” A police cordon remains around the scene with the rapper’s Audi and unmarked and marked police vehicles involved in the chase being examined.
IOPC London Regional Director Sal Naseem added: “When the police use fatal force it is important that there is a robust, independent investigation to establish all of the circumstances surrounding what happened.
“It is natural that the community wants answers quickly but I would ask that people refrain from speculation that may be unhelpful to all of those affected. I want to reassure everyone concerned by this incident that our investigators are working hard to establish the entire sequence of events which resulted in this man’s death.
“We have already secured a large amount of evidence which will be subject to comprehensive analysis, and our enquiries are ongoing.”
A post mortem will be held at a date yet to be fixed.
