Vigil held to mark 40th birthday of man killed by police in Redditch on Christmas Eve
39-year-old Marcus Meade, originally from Birmingham, was pronounced dead at an address in Fownhope Close on 24 December
A vigil has been held by the family and friends of a man who died in Redditch on Christmas Eve after he was shot by police.
39-year-old Marcus Meade, originally from Birmingham, was pronounced dead at an address in Fownhope Close at around 8pm on 24 December.
An Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) investigation into his death remains ongoing and has so far established officers had been called to the property at around 2pm that day following concerns for the welfare of a man.
West Mercia Police officers then attempted to negotiate with father-of-two Marcus Meade, who was reportedly in possession of a knife, for several hours.
At around 7.40pm, several officers forced entry to the property using distraction devices which generated several loud bangs and flashes before a single shot was then fired, hitting Marcus in the chest.
Officers carried out immediate first aid on the father of two but he died at the scene a short time later.
His family and a campaign group set-up following his death said the vigil served as both a moment of remembrance and to continue their call for the officer who fired the shot which killed Mr Meade to be suspended.
Marcus' dad Anthony Meade and his mum Deborah Clarke say they won't stop demanding answers as to why their son is dead and it remains tough.
"It's just difficult," Anthony said.
"I can't celebrate his birthday with him, I can't hold his hand, I can't kiss him, I can't hug him, I can't really speak to him.
"This is the first birthday that I'm going to have to kind of cope with (him not being here), this big birthday, the 40th, it's hard because I'm not going to see him again, but the call for answers is not going to stop."
His mum Debbie has paid tribute to him, she said: "He was lovely, he would help anybody and do anything for anybody.
"This is our way of doing it is by celebrating his birthday and we'll do it every year, every year we'll do it for him.
"I am not going to stop until justice is done for my son."
A West Mercia Police spokesperson previously said: "The officers involved have not been suspended and, after a period of reflection, have returned to duty."
Ahead of the vigil, West Mercia Police also added in a statement: "We continue to express our sincere condolences to the family and friends of Marcus Meade, our thoughts remain with everyone affected by this tragic incident.
"The Independent Office for Police Conduct continues to carry out an independent investigation and it would not be appropriate for us to comment further at this time; however, we will do so when we are able."
In February the IOPC added in an update it was also looking at "whether officers properly took into account Mr Meade’s mental health issues" and "if Mr Meade’s race may have influenced any actions taken by police."
It also said it had gathered, and was continuing to review, a significant volume of police body worn video footage spanning the several hours that officers were outside the address.