Inquest Rules West Midlands Police Shot Dead Unarmed Man Lawfully

Sean Fitzgerald, a 31-year-old former soldier, was lawfully killed by West Midlands Police during a drugs raid in Burnaby Road, Coventry, in January 2019, an inquest has ruled. Fitzgerald, who was unarmed, was shot once in the chest by an officer identified only as Officer K after being seen holding a black object believed to be a gun, prompting the officer to perceive an immediate threat to life. The inquest jury found three failures in the police operation, including issues with the level of intelligence and inadequate prior surveillance of the premises. The investigation and inquest, which lasted over five weeks, included detailed scrutiny of the firearms training and operational planning involved in the raid. Despite the lawful killing verdict, the case has had a profound impact on Fitzgerald's family, and the police have acknowledged the need to learn from the identified operational shortcomings. The Independent Office for Police Conduct and West Midlands Police expressed condolences to the family and emphasized the complexity and risks inherent in armed policing.