Inquest opened into police shooting

Mr O'Connor was shot outside a pub

An inquest into the death of a man shot by police in Bedfordshire has been opened.

Colin O'Connor, 39, was killed by a police marksman near the Flying Horse Pub at Clophill last Thursday evening.

The inquest heard Mr O'Connor had threatened armed officers with a gun after he was told to get out of his car and was then shot once in the chest.

Bedfordshire coroner David Morris ruled that all officers connected with the case should remain anonymous.

Family's shock

He made the order in response to a request by the Police Federation.

However, it will be reviewed once an interim report has been prepared by Northamptonshire Police, which is carrying out the investigation into the death.

Mr O'Connor, who lived with his sister and her two sons in Kempston, Bedfordshire, was a full-time carer for his 84-year-old mother.

Speaking after the inquest, his brother Nigel O'Connor said the family was still in shock, but wanted to start making arrangements for the funeral.

The family has already demanded to know why the police felt it necessary to shoot Mr O'Connor.

The hearing was adjourned.