Yassar Yaqub, 28, was fatally shot by an armed West Yorkshire police officer after his Audi was stopped on the M62 near Huddersfield in January 2017. The incident ended with two bullets hitting Mr Yaqub in the chest, causing catastrophic blood loss.
A Leeds Crown Court jury found the officer, known only as V39, fired “with reasonable force” because he “honestly believed his life was in danger.” The police had been tracking Mr Yaqub and three others before ramming the Audi with an unmarked car to bring it to a halt. As the car stopped near Junction 24, the officer opened fire three times.
The officer told the court he feared for his life after Mr Yaqub allegedly aimed a revolver at him from inside the vehicle. At the inquest, a loaded gun was found in the footwell under the passenger seat where Mr Yaqub was seated. The officer stated he had “no other option” but to shoot.
Mr Yaqub’s father, Mohammed Yaqub, condemned the verdict as a “legal killing” and claimed his son was “murdered unlawfully for no apparent cause.” He criticised the coroner for preventing the jury from deciding if the killing was unlawful, calling it a “grave error” and “unfairness.”
“We are astonished and perplexed by the conclusion that this was a legal killing. Yassar was ruthlessly taken from my family and me,” said Mohammed Yaqub. The family is now considering a legal challenge to the decision, devastated by their loss.
West Yorkshire Police Chief Constable John Robins expressed shock at the inquest’s outcome but emphasised the tragedy’s impact on the officers involved. “The loss of life in any circumstances is tragic, and our sympathies remain with the Yaqub family,” he said.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) supported the officer’s actions. A spokesperson stated the use of force “was necessary and appropriate” based on the evidence and the officer’s belief that he faced imminent danger.
Originally published by UKNIP.
