Milton Keynes man shot by police ‘might have called 999’

A man who was shot dead by police at a railway station might have called officers claiming there was a gunman, a watchdog has said.

David Joyce, 38, was shot by an armed officer at Milton Keynes Central Station on 1 April after Thames Valley Police responded to reports of a man carrying a gun.

An investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) linked Mr Joyce to a mobile number that called 999 to report a gunman at the station.

The police force referred itself to the IOPC. An inquest into Mr Joyce’s death was opened and adjourned at Milton Keynes Coroner’s Court on 10 April.

An investigation by the watchdog said a call handler rang back the mobile number after the caller hung up.

The handler spoke to the same man who said the male gunman was acting suspiciously and “definitely” had a gun, the IOPC said.

Records showed the mobile phone number used to make the 999 call had been used to call police before and was linked to Mr Joyce, according to the watchdog.

CCTV footage showed Mr Joyce making a phone call at the same time the 999 call to police was made, the IOPC said.

Mr Joyce, who lived in Milton Keynes but was originally from Galway in the Republic of Ireland, was armed with a steak knife with a 12cm blade when he ran at two officers, the watchdog said.

He was then shot at close range by a Thames Valley Police officer from the armed response unit.

IOPC director Derrick Campbell said: “We again extend our sincere condolences to the family and friends of David Joyce and all those affected by this incident.

“We continue to keep his family informed of our progress.”

The watchdog said it had interviewed officers involved, gathered a large amount of CCTV from inside and outside the station, as well as obtaining officers’ body-worn video and police vehicle dashcam footage.

It had also undertaken house-to-house inquiries at nearby properties and taken statements from witnesses.

The officers remain as witnesses while the investigation remains ongoing, but there was no indication any of them may have committed a criminal office or breached police professional standards of behaviour, the IOPC added.