[ad_1]
Investigators with the Garda Ombudsman will examine video capturing Garda’s fatal shooting of a man in his front garden in West Dublin on Wednesday.
George Nkencho (27) was shot at least three times by members of the Blanchardstown Armed Support Unit (ASU) while allegedly brandishing a knife and threatening Gardaí.
A 13-second mobile phone video filmed by a passerby and confirmed by The Irish Times shows a man in a blue sweater surrounded by ASU members outside Mr. Nkencho’s family home on Manorfields Drive in Clonee.
A shot can be heard before the man in blue is seen swinging his arm towards the officers. It is not clear from the images if there is anything on his hand.
Then four more shots are heard. The man appears to stumble before falling to the ground on the fifth shot.
The images were taken from the other side of a green area in front of the house.
Officers on the scene in Clonee, west of Dublin, following the fatal Garda shooting. Photograph: Niall Carson / PA Wire
Sources say all the shots came from an official Garda weapon. At least three beat Mr. Nkencho. Members of the ASU administered first aid before paramedics from the Dublin Fire Brigade arrived and began CPR. He was taken by ambulance to James Connolly Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead a short time later.
The Garda said in a statement that it implemented “a graduated police response” after being threatened with a knife. This is understood to have involved the use of pepper spray followed by the firing of two Tasers.
Gardaí also verbally ordered the deceased to drop the knife several times before using force, a source said.
The incident began shortly after noon when, according to eyewitnesses, Mr. Nkencho entered the Eurospar supermarket in Hartstown where he struck a manager in the face, wounding the victim in the nose. Mr. Nkencho then took out a large knife from his pocket and brandished it towards the staff.
Gardaí unarmed
Then he entered the postal section of the supermarket as the unarmed Gardaí began to arrive. The supermarket manager was taken to the hospital for treatment.
At least 12 unarmed Gardaí followed Mr. Nkencho out of the store and through various housing estates while signaling him to drop the knife.
By the time Mr. Nkencho reached his front lawn at 12:30 pm, ASU had arrived from Blanchardstown Garda station and took over the operation. This is when the fatal shots were fired.
The deceased and his family are originally from Nigeria, but had been living in the area for many years. Some members of the family were in the house at the time. They have since been relocated to a friend’s house.
The Gardaí has obtained the video of the shooting that will be transmitted to the investigators of the Garda Ombudsman Commission (Gsoc).
[ad_2]