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Vigil held for man killed in police shooting

BBC People stand near tributes to Marcus Meade, on the ground, in the dark. Properties are seen in the background of the photo.BBC
People gathered at a vigil on Tuesday evening

More than 100 people have attended a vigil paying tribute to a man who was killed by armed police.

Marcus Meade died at a property on Fownhope Close in Redditch following a five-hour stand-off with West Mercia Police on Christmas Eve.

People gathered from 18:00 GMT, close to where the shooting happened, to light a candle in memory of the dad-of-two.

His father, Anthony Meade, said the loss had "absolutely devastated the family".

"Marcus was a beautiful kid, he had his struggles but it still didn't stop that he had a good side to him," he said.

He described how his son had previously struggled with his mental health at Christmas time and around his birthday, revealing how he had "little breakdowns" because he could not see his children.

He would bang or punch cupboards and doors, his father said, adding that he was a "kid screaming out for help".

Mr Meade's father, pictured at the vigil, side on to the camera. He is wearing a scarf and other people are in the background
Father Anthony Meade, who was at the vigil, has said the loss had "absolutely devastated the family"

In its investigation, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said officers had tried to negotiate with Mr Meade, who had a knife, on the night he died.

It added that officers used distraction devices and at least one Taser before the fatal shot was fired.

A West Mercia Police spokesperson said it would not be appropriate to comment while the IOPC investigated.

Family A man smiling into the camera. Only part is his face is visible as the image is cut off at the chin and eyebrows. He has brown eyes and a short, black beard. Family
Marcus Meade died on Christmas Eve following a five-hour stand off with police

The family has called for more answers.

His father added: "We want to know everything, they've put us in the dark, they won't tell us nothing, it just seems like everything is shut down and locked.

"We want to know why they killed our son. Why they sent armed police to somebody that they were well aware of and knew he was of no harm to anyone."

Small candles arranged to spell out the word Marcus on the ground. Floral tributes are behind them on the ground.
Tributes to Mr Meade, including floral tributes, were added on the ground

Mr Meade's mother Deborah Clarke added that her son "should still be here".

"He was like my right-hand man, wherever I was, Marcus was there, we was always together, always. He was just everything to me and he's gone."

She added that she thought race was "part of the factors" that resulted in Mr Meade's death.

His brothers said on Tuesday evening their lives had been ruined by the incident.

A man and woman sitting in front of a cream wall. There is a radiator behind them and they are both looking into the camera. The man is wearing rectangular tinted glasses, a cream scarf and denim jacket. The woman is wearing a purple turtleneck jumper and grey padded coat fur around the hood.
Marcus Meade's mother, Deborah Clarke, pictured with his father Anthony Meade, believes race played a part in her son's death

Family spokesman Bishop Dr Desmond Jaddoo, who organised the vigil, said: "We've got to demonstrate love and care for the family. In circumstances like this, they're on their own.

"We've got to gather around them right now and show some love, that's what's important, whilst we're demanding answers as well, as to why the police carried out this operation on Christmas Eve."

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