Inquest opens into death of man shot by police on A11

An investigation into a man who was shot dead by police in Norfolk while carrying an air gun has been opened at court.

Tony Keeble was shot in the chest and abdomen by armed officers next to the Thetford bypass on December 28.

The 61-year-old, whose full name is Anthony Wayne Keeble, was given first aid but was declared dead at the scene at about 10.15pm.

Norfolk Police was initially called to a crash between a Honda Jazz and a Mercedes van by the gates of Thetford cemetery on London Road at about 8.25pm. Advertisement Advertisement

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The Honda driver was found to have suffered minor injuries but declined to be treated at hospital.

Officers received several reports from members of the public that a man carrying a handgun had left the scene and had been spotted on London Road.

A local has claimed that a man shot dead by police on the A11 at Thetford "pointed a pistol at a woman" before he was killed. (Image: East Anglia News Service)

Mr Keeble was found by armed officers next to the A11 near Sainsbury's, about a mile away.

He was ordered to drop his weapon twice. Shortly after, two officers each fired a shot which struck him.

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Following the incident, part of the A11 was closed in both directions.

A referral was also made to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

An inquest into Mr Keeble's death was opened today (Tuesday, January 20) at Norfolk Coroner's Court.

Area coroner Yvonne Blake confirmed Mr Keeble lived at Masefield Walk, Thetford, and his occupation was given as a carpenter.

His identification was provided by Norfolk and Suffolk Forensic Support, and Mrs Blake confirmed his provisional cause of death was "gunshot wounds to chest and abdomen".

Details of his particulars were given by Norfolk Police, including his date and place of birth as January 27, 1964, in Colchester, Essex.