A MAN shot by police in Knaphill last night was carrying a black BB gun, the Independent Police Complaints Commission have revealed.

Armed Response Units rushed to Oak Tree Road just after 10pm yesterday (Wednesday, July 25) after an individual was reported to be carrying an armed weapon with the intent of harming himself and others.

A man in his 40s was shot at the scene and was taken to St George's hospital in Tooting. Police have yet to reveal the extent of his injuries.

Officers confirmed a firearm had been discovered and the IPCC later confirmed the weapon was a ball bearing air gun.

IPCC commissioner Mike Franklin said: “This matter was referred to the IPCC in the early hours of this morning (Thursday 26 July) and we immediately sent investigators to the scene.

“At this stage we can confirm that one round was fired by one officer resulting in the man’s injuries and hospitalisation.

“A  weapon was found at the scene and has been identified by a ballistics expert as a 6mm BB gun which had been painted black. Further forensic work is being carried out on that weapon and IPCC investigators have supervised house to house inquiries in the local area.

“Our inquiry, which is in the very early stages, will be a thorough investigation scrutinising all of the circumstances surrounding the police actions and decisions leading from initial 999 calls made earlier in the evening up to the shooting.

“An IPCC family liaison manager has made contact with the man to explain our role."

One resident, who did not want to be named for security reasons, said people entering the property in question were often drunk or in search of drugs.

The mother of two described the incident as a shock but admitted police were always being called to deal with trouble right outside her door.

Reliving the ordeal, she said: "My son woke up me at around 11pm saying that armed police were running around everywhere and that he thought someone had been shot.

"By then the shot had gone off so I came down in my dressing gown to have a look and there were police absolutely everywhere.

"Paramedics were working on a man on the ground and eventually an ambulance turned up - it was a bit of a shock."

Fears the man had planted an explosive device at the property led to some residents being evacuated to a nearby church, but a bomb disposal team found nothing.

"At about midnight we were evacuated to Holy Trinity Church hall and got back home just gone 2am.

"I woke up this morning at around 5.30am and this whole area was cordoned off - they've obviously been very busy over night.

"I've lived here 17 years and that house has always been trouble.

"The area has changed vastly since we've moved in.

"It's not the quiet neighbourhood it used to be and police are always outside."

Another witness told the News & Mail: “I was there at about 12.10am when the bomb disposal unit arrived. There were still armed police around.

“My friend was there and had just finished his shift at Sainsbury’s – there were about 10 police cars in the shop’s car park and more outside.

“He drove down to see what was happening and he heard gun shots at about 11.15pm. The armed police were full-on with machine guns.

“The police evacuated the area sending people to the nearby church.

“They told my friend to get down in the car.

“The man told them he had a bomb in his house and that’s when the police shot him."

Another man in his 30s was arrested at the scene and remains in police custody.

The shooting  has been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission who have sent investigators to the scene.

A spokesman said: "A decision on the level of IPCC involvement will be made once the assessment is completed."

Video footage below courtesy of BRONXYTV.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bT8I49NnInA