The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) announced on Wednesday that the Metropolitan Police Officer who shot and killed Chris Kaba is being charged with murder.

A police officer shot and killed Chris in his car in Streatham south London on 5 September last year. He was followed by several police cars and then shot through the windscreen of his car. He was an unarmed black man.

The decision in Chris’s case follows the homicide investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), who passed their file to the CPS in March.

There has only been one successful prosecution of a cop for manslaughter in 2021, and none for murder.

In a joint statement, the family of Chris Kaba said, “Chris was so very loved by our family and all his friends. He had a bright future ahead of him, but his life was cut short. Our family and our wider community must see justice for Chris. We welcome this charging decision, which could not have come too soon. Now we await the trial of the firearms officer without delay and hope and pray that justice will be served.”

Anita Sharma, head of casework at charity Inquest, said, “Bereaved families should expect that police officers who kill people are held to account to a criminal standard, but this is so often denied. Chris was an unarmed Black man who was shot in the head by a police officer on the streets of London. His death has generated national and international disquiet and yet again exposed the racism and violence of policing.”

Earlier this month hundreds of people marched to demand the CP stop delaying its decision into the case.

The officer will appear before Westminster Magistrates Court Thursday 21 September (tomorrow). The officer is known only as NX121 at this stage.