Police marksman to be quizzed

THE Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has served a formal notice of investigation on a Greater Manchester Police firearms officer as part of its investigation into the fatal shooting of Anthony Grainger at Culcheth, near Warrington.
Mr Grainger, aged 36, died as a result of a single gunshot wound to the chest following the incident on a car park near Jackson Avenue, at about 7.20pm on Saturday March 3.
A notice has been served on the officer who fired the fatal shot to explain that his actions are under investigation. He has been advised that he will be criminally interviewed in due course.
Mr Grainger’s family has welcomed the IPCC decision. The father-of-two died after being shot as he sat in the front of an Audi car on the car park.
Armed officers from Greater Manchester Police had swooped on the vehicle in a ‘pre-planned’ operation. But no evidence was found afterwards that anyone in the car had a gun.
Mr Grainger’s girlfriend, Gail Hadfield, says the move is ‘a positive development’.
She added: “It’s a step in the right direction and we welcome it.”
She said she believed the officer who had fired the shot which killed Mr Grainger should be charged with murder.
It is understood that 16 armed officers were involved in the operation. The officer who fired the fatal shot, who has not been named, has not been arrested.
The Crown Prosecution Service will have to decide if the officer should be charged.
Two other men arrested at the time of the shooting, and a third arrested the following day, have been charged with conspiracy to commit robbery.