The incident that led to the death of Chris Kaba occurred in September 2022 when Martyn Blake fatally shot 24-year-old Kaba during a police operation in Streatham, South London. Kaba was driving an Audi Q8, which had been linked to a firearms incident the previous day. During the attempted stop,Kaba tried to evade police by ramming through police vehicles, prompting Blake to fire a single shot through the windscreen, resulting in Kaba’s death.

In October 2024, Blake was acquitted of murder by a jury at Old Bailey, who deliberated for nearly three hours before delivering a not guilty verdict. The jury accepted Blake’s assertion that he believed his actions are necessary to protect his colleagues.

Despite the acquittal, the Independent Office for Police Conduct(IPOC) has determined that there is sufficient evidence for a gross misconduct hearing,stating that, on the balance of probabilities, a disciplinary panel could find that Blake breached professional standards. If found guilty, Blake could face dismissal from the force.

The Metropolitan Police has expressed disagreement with the IPOC’s decision, noting that the officer had already been cleared in court and had acted appropriately. The case has sparked criticism from policing officials and concerns about its impact on public confidence and armed officers.

The case has drawn significant public attention, particularly among Black communities and police advocacy groups. Kaba’s family has expressed devastation over the verdict, stating that the decision shows his life “does not matter to the system” and vowing to continue fighting for justice and systemic change.

A date for the gross misconduct hearing has not yet been set.