Chris Kaba's devastated family tearfully embraced hearing heartbreaking details about the night he was shot by police as his inquest opened.
The 24-year-old was shot in the head in Streatham Hill, south London, by police on September 5.
The vehicle Chris was driving indicated was linked to a firearms incident the day before.
But no gun was found in the vehicle or near the scene and the car he was in did not belong to him.
As the inquest into his death began at Inner South London Coroner's court today (Tuesday, October 4), Chris’ mother Helen Lumuanganu appeared distraught.
The grieving mum struggled to hold back her tears as the family, Chris' parents, brother and cousin, stood in front of the press this morning.
Chris’ cousin Jefferson Bosela held her while she sobbed during the sombre moments after the hearing and called for the officers involved to be interviewed under caution.
The former school teacher read out an emotional statement in which he said that Chris was “very much loved” and the “loss” was with them “everyday”.
During the inquest, the court heard how officers had followed the vehicle Chris had been driving but did not activate their lights or sirens - with the intention of using an "enforced stop extraction".
The car had been linked to a previous firearms incident which occurred the day before on September 4.
Officers had been briefed about it during their shift on September 5.
During the inquest hearing, lead investigator of the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) - Dean Brown read out the evidence they had gathered so far.
He told the court that according to police logs and accounts received to date by officers the Audi was recognised by officers parked at the side of the A202 in Camberwell Green in an unmarked armed response vehicle (ARV).
Police followed the vehicle Chris was driving at 9.52pm and that Chris made a left turn into Kirstall Gardens where a marked police armed response vehicle was present.
The marked armed vehicle was parked with the intention of joining the other police vehicles behind the Audi once it had passed the junction.
But when Chris made the turning, the officer decided to perform an "inline extraction" - where armed officers exited their vehicles and approached the Audi.
The lead investigator stated: “The evidence suggests that contact was made between the Audi driven by Mr Kaba and the police vehicles.”
He also added: “The evidence further suggests that the officer was standing to the front of Chris' vehicle and single shot was fired by officer.”
Chris’ family has called for a charging decision to be made by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) urgently - adding evidence they need to make that decision should be available in two weeks.
Family spokesperson and Chris’ cousin Jefferson expressed that the family had been made to chase the IOPC for information.
He said: “A CPS charging decision needs to happen urgently. This should not take months and months. The evidence they need to make that decision should be available within two weeks.
"And urgent decision on criminal charges is critical for the family and many offers to help pay for the system that is supposed to bring them justice.
"The family needs to be kept up to date with the investigation. While we have had positive communications with the IOPC at times, our family has had to chase the IOPC for information or push them to do what they should be doing already."
He added the family had been alarmed by the length of time the proceedings could take.
He said: “We are glad this matter has been investigated by the IOPC as a homicide investigation. We hope that this will lead to prosecutions.
"But we are alarmed at what we have been told about how long this is expected to take.
“We do not accept that this process should take longer than other homicide investigations, mainly because the person who killed Chris is a police officer."
Chris was due to become a dad for the first time at the time of his death.
When Jefferson mentioned this heartbreaking fact in his statement, Helen became overcome with emotion.
He said: “My cousin Chris was very much loved by us. His loss is with us every day.
"He had a bright future ahead of him. His first child was about to be born.
"That his life was cut short by a police officer is a tragedy.
"We will not rest until the people responsible for Chris's death are held fully accountable."
