A man shot dead by a police officer is thought to have been unarmed, it has been disclosed.

The BBC's Martin Popplewell reports from Southampton (1'42")

The 39-year-old man was shot once in the chest during a raid on a flat in St Leonards, East Sussex.

Three men are being held for questioning in Hastings

Sussex Chief Constable Paul Whitehouse said: "As far as we know the man was not armed. It is a matter for the independent investigation."

Mr Whitehouse said he did not believe any of his officers had acted improperly but declined to say if a warning had been shouted before the shooting.

Chief Constable Paul Whitehouse deeply regrets the death

Officers applied first aid to try to save the man's life but he was certified dead at the scene.

The incident happened at 0400 on Thursday in the Warrior Square area of the town.

Sussex Police's special operations unit was executing a warrant at residential flats near the square. Three men were arrested during the raid, and a fourth is still being hunted.

The operation was set up as part of an investigation into cocaine trafficking and an attempted murder.

The Police Complaints Authority has been asked to investigate. An Assistant Chief Constable from the Kent force, Barbara Wilding, is to lead the inquiry.

Sussex police defend the police officer's action (0' 27")

The PCA Deputy Chairman John Cartwright said: "The independent investigation will determine exactly what happened and will look at all of the circumstances surrounding this tragedy."
 

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