'Dark horse' shot dead by police with crossbows and sword in Southwark pictured

30 January 2024 , 19:24

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The man who was shot dead by Metropolitan Police outside a home in Southwark in the early hours of Tuesday has been named

A man shot dead by armed officers after trying to break into a home wielding a crossbow, sword and hatchet has been named locally as Bryce Hodgson.

The 30-year-old died after police rushed to the scene in Southwark, South London, in the early hours of Tuesday following reports a man had been trying to force his way into a home. The Metropolitan Police was called to Bywater Place, Surrey Quays, shortly before 5am after terrified residents raised the alarm.

The force said he had been carrying various weapons at the time, including a crossbow, and was threatening to harm the residents inside. Attempts at negotiation from officers were unsuccessful, prompting them to call for back-up from armed police.

Mr Hodgson then got into the home and an armed officer's gun was fired. Paramedics were called to the scene but sadly he was pronounced dead.

A man shot dead by armed officers after trying to break into a home wielding a crossbow has been named locally as Bryce Hodgson

Neighbours of Mr Hodgson described him as a "dark horse" who was "nervy" and would smoke weed. One resident at a south London bedsit where he lived said: "He moved in last summer and you would see him outside the front smoking weed and cigarettes. He smoked a lot.

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"He was a bit anxious, like he was on edge. I have a feeling he worked in computers. I never saw him bring anyone back. You could never quite work out what kind of person he was. He was a dark horse, nervy, but I never saw him being aggressive."

The Mirror can reveal that he appeared in court last June charged with "stalking involving serious alarm/distress". Mr Hodgson had been accused of entering a woman's bedroom without her consent and sending text messages demanding she open her door between January and April last year.

He was released and later charged at Croydon crown court with failing to stick to bail conditions after allegedly breaking a daily night time curfew. It is not known if he was convicted of the charges. His next of kin have been informed about his death.

Mr Hodgson was born in Sheffield before moving with his family to Middlesbrough where he lived until 2015.

Neighbours were woken by the noise of screaming (Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)

The people inside the home at the time of Tuesday's shooting received minor injuries but were relatively unharmed. Mr Hodgson was named by locals as the Met confirmed it had referred the incident on to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) on Thursday as a matter of protocol. The Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards has also been informed.

The watchdog is also expected to investigate all previous contact Mr Hodgson and his alleged victim had with police. Neighbours said on Tuesday that they were woken up by a burst of screaming and shouting.

Restaurant owner Akber Baloch, 52, said: "I was sleeping and I heard some shouting. It was also like someone was banging a door. There was banging and shouting. It sounded like a man and a woman." He added: "I was afraid about what was happening. I am really worried and it makes you feel insecure. I do not know who is wrong or right in this situation but it makes you feel insecure."

IT consultant Valeria Bocanegra, 37, said: "I could hear shouting but could not hear what was being said. I could hear someone screaming and then everything became quiet. I think it was a man and a woman fighting. It is quite a shock (to hear that someone has been shot). There is a family behind this situation. A man has died and it is a horrible situation."

The man died at the scene after he was shot by an armed officer (Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)

The IOPC revealed more details about the investigation on Tuesday, including that they had reviewed police body cam footage and that an array of weapons had been found at the scene. The police watchdog said Mr Hodgson had been wearing body armour at the time, and had been carrying a sword and hatchet alongside a crossbow.

The Met has referred the incident on to the IOPC (Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)

A spokesperson said: "We can confirm two shots were fired from a police issue firearm, which will be subject to further analysis. Among the weapons found at the scene were crossbows, a knife, a sword and a hatchet. The man, who was wearing body armour, was taken outside the property and given first aid but, sadly, died at the scene."

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Assistant Commissioner for the Met Matt Twist said on Tuesday evening: “The first unarmed officers knew they were arriving on scene to reports of man armed with weapons and threatening to harm people inside an address. The officers knew there were people inside and had genuine fears for their safety.

“Armed officers were called and attempted to get the man to surrender. They entered the property and shots were fired. The officers, assisted by paramedics, provided emergency first aid to the man, who was wearing body armour, but he sadly died.

“Weapons recovered from the scene include crossbows, a knife, a sword and a hatchet. This is an extremely difficult day for everyone involved. I would like to pay tribute to the bravery of all our officers who responded and thank all the emergency service staff involved. I firmly believe their actions prevented further loss of life.”

Forensics remained at the scene on Tuesday (Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)

IOPC regional director Mel Palmer said: “Our thoughts are with all of those affected by this tragic incident. The man’s next of kin have been informed and, in due course, we will be contacting them to explain our role. We will keep them regularly updated throughout our investigation. Given a man has died after being shot by police, our role is to independently investigate all of the circumstances surrounding this incident including the actions and decisions taken by the police.

“We appreciate that the community will want answers quickly and our investigators are working hard to establish the facts and piece together what occurred.” HM Coroner has been informed and a post-mortem examination will take place.

A Met spokesperson said that armed officers were highly trained for extremely challenging jobs, and discharged their weapons very rarely with and under the full understanding that their actions will be closely scrutinised. Fatal police shootings remain highly rare in the UK with only one recorded last year.

Giedrius Vasiljevas, 40, was shot dead in Dagenham, East London, by armed Met officers after reports he had called police saying he was armed and planned to take his life. An IOPC investigation in his death remains ongoing with an inquest opening on December 13.

Tom Pettifor