Sean Fitzgerald, 31, was shot in the chest by an unidentified officer after leaving an address in Coventry in January 2019
17:37, 21 May 2025Updated 17:38, 21 May 2025
Sean Fitzgerald was shot dead on Burnaby Road in Coventry in 2019.(Image: Coventry Telegraph)
An unarmed man shot dead by police in the Midlands was lawfully killed, an inquest has decided.
Sean Fitzgerald, 31, was shot in the chest and died on January 4, 2019.
It happened as West Midlands Police officers were probing the activities of an alleged organised crime group on Burnaby Road, Coventry.
The officer responsible for the fatal shot – Officer K – testified at Coventry Coroner’s Court in an inquest that began last month. He told the court he saw a man holding a black object he believed to have been a gun as he watched on from a neighbour’s back garden.
Mr Fitzgerald, who was unarmed, was shot after leaving a property on the street at around 6.20pm.
The identity of the officer who fired the shot, along with several others, was kept confidential throughout the inquest, reports Coventry Live.
More than six years on, a jury was tasked with deliberating two possible outcomes of lawful or unlawful killing. But jurors also found failings in police intelligence and previous surveillance of the scene, according to the BBC.
After the verdict was returned, Independent Office for Police Conduct director Derrick Campbell said: “Sean Fitzgerald’s death has had a profound impact on his family and friends and our sympathies remain with them. We also recognise the effect this has had on the police officers involved.
“Over the past five weeks the inquest has carefully considered the evidence provided by our investigation, as well as additional evidence, and we note the conclusion the jury has reached today.
“Our investigation, which concluded in December 2023, examined not only the shooting itself, but the wider circumstances, including the intelligence and decision making in the planning of the operation.
“Having considered all the evidence, a range of expert opinion and applying the legal thresholds which govern our work, we concluded there was sufficient evidence to indicate the officer who fired the fatal shot may have breached the police professional standards regarding his use of force and therefore had a case to answer for gross misconduct.
“West Midlands Police were directed to hold a misconduct hearing, although it was agreed that should not be progressed until after the conclusion of the inquest proceedings.
“We determined the evidence did not meet the threshold for a referral to the Crown Prosecution Service to consider whether the same officer should face a criminal charge in relation to the shooting.
“This was a complex investigation and we recognise our enquiries took far longer than expected. We understand the impact this has had on everyone concerned and will carefully review, as soon as possible, whether any of the additional evidence heard at the inquest impacts on our previous decision making.
“We will continue to liaise with Sean Fitzgerald’s family, West Midlands Police and the officer’s representatives.”
West Midlands Police assistant chief constable Damian Barratt said: “We note the conclusion of lawful killing that the jury has returned today following the inquest concerning the death of Sean Fitzgerald and we offer our sincere condolences to the family of Mr Fitzgerald.
“The inquest has been complex and challenging for all those involved. We note the points raised within the findings and will ensure these are fully considered in order to identify any learning in future operations.
“Armed policing is complex and challenging and our firearms officers put themselves in harm’s way to protect the public on a daily basis, and undergo continuous rigorous training to ensure they are suitably equipped for such a vital and demanding role.”