Stalker armed with crossbow shot by police in neck after breaking into house

14 February 2024 , 10:31

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Bryce Hodgson was shot dead in south east London

A convicted stalker who broke into a home armed with a crossbow and other weapons was shot dead by police, an inquest heard.

Bryce Hodgson was shot in the neck and chest after breaking into the home in Bywater Place, Surrey Quays, south-east London. An inquest which opened today at Southwark Coroner’s Court heard the 30-year-old had gained entrance to the property armed with a crossbow and other weapons. It was earlier reported people inside the home at the time of the shooting received minor injuries but were relatively unharmed.

Senior Coroner Dr Julian Morris said: “He had entered Bywater Place armed with various weapons, including a crossbow. Police were called to the scene and, when he exhibited some threatening behaviour, armed response units were called and subsequently shots were fired. He was pronounced dead at the scene.”

A provisional post-mortem examination report found Hodgson died from gunshot wounds to his neck and chest. The inquest heard Hodgson, from Sheffield, was single and working in IT at the time of his death, and his last known address was in south-east London.

The scene of the incident last month (PA)

The Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC) is currently investigating the incident. Harriet Griffiths, lead investigator on the case, said: “Police units attended but were unable to detain him and they were shortly followed by their firearms colleagues, who, as you know, fired shots.”

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The hearing was adjourned for the IOPC to continue its investigation.

Last month neighbours described Mr Hodgson 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.

"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."

Restaurant owner Akber Baloch, 52, added: "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.

"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."

Antony Clements-Thrower