The search for Desi Freeman has reached a tragic conclusion after the Metropolitan Police confirmed his body was recovered from the River Thames near HMS Belfast. The discovery comes just days after a dramatic police shooting incident in Poplar, East London, which is now under independent investigation.
The chain of events began on Tuesday when armed officers from the Met's Specialist Firearms Command (MO19) were deployed to a residential address. Police had been responding to urgent concerns for the welfare of a man, later identified as Mr. Freeman, who was reportedly in possession of a crossbow.
Authorities state that the situation escalated rapidly upon their arrival. "A man was sighted with what was confirmed to be a crossbow and subsequently shots were fired by police," a Met spokesperson confirmed. A non-police issue crossbow was recovered at the scene.
Intensive Search Operation Launched
Following the shooting, Mr. Freeman was not found at the immediate scene, prompting a large-scale multi-agency search operation. The Marine Policing Unit, the National Police Air Service (NPAS), and the Dog Unit scoured the area around the River Thames.
The breakthrough came on Friday morning when the Marine Policing Unit located a body in the water. While formal identification is yet to take place, the family of Mr. Freeman has been informed and is being supported by specially trained officers.
Independent Probe into Police Actions
In accordance with standard procedure, the Metropolitan Police made an immediate referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). The watchdog has since launched a full independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
"Our thoughts are with the family of the man who has died and all those affected by this incident," an IOPC spokesman stated. The investigation will scrutinise the actions and decisions of the firearms officers involved.
A mandatory post-mortem examination and inquest will be held in due course to establish the exact cause of death.
