OFF DUTY
Chris Kaba death: Met firearms officer who shot unarmed rapper dead is suspended following family protest
A MET Police officer who shot dead an unarmed rapper has been suspended seven days later.
It comes after the policing watchdog launched a homicide investigation into 24-year-old Chris Kaba’s death.
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The dad-to-be was killed last week following a police car pursuit in Streatham Hill, South London.
His Audi was hemmed in by two police cars before an armed officer fired a single shot at him.
Drill rapper Chris’ family have been calling for the officer’s suspension since.
Assistant Met Commissioner Amanda Pearson said: "This decision has been reached following careful consideration of a number of factors, including the significant impact on public confidence, and in light of the Independent Office for Police Conduct announcing a homicide investigation.
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"Our thoughts and sympathies remain with Mr Kaba's family and friends.
"We understand how concerned communities are, particularly black communities, and thank those who are working closely with our local officers."
Officers wanted to stop Chris when number plate recognition suggested it could be linked to a firearms incident days before. An independent probe later found he was unarmed.
Chris’ mum Helen accused the police of racism last week. She told the BBC: “My heart is broken. I am speechless. My heart is broken.
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“Police have taken Chris from me. I need justice to be done for Chris. This is very racist. It’s no good.
“I need justice to be done; criminal justice to be done.”
Huge crowds gathered outside the Met's HQ on Saturday demanding justic for Chris.
Rapper Stormzy joined the hundreds of people there and said: "Chris has a mother, he has a family, he has brothers, he has friends, people who knew him in real life, who for them, it's unbearable."
He added: "When these people do these things, they get away with it.
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"Because what happens is we do this once, we get tired, we tweet, we get tired, we do it for a week, we do it for two weeks, we do it for a month, and they know we get tired.
"What they've done is they've killed someone. We can't sugar coat it."
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