Huddersfield Shooting: Armed Officer Cleared After Fatal M62 Gunfire
Yassar Yaqub, 28, was shot dead by an armed police officer near Huddersfield on the M62 in January 2017. The incident unfolded after West Yorkshire Police attempted to stop his Audi. At Leeds Crown Court, a jury ruled the officer “honestly believed his life was in danger” and used “reasonable force” in firing three shots.
Police Ram Audi Before Deadly Gunfire
West Yorkshire Police had been monitoring Mr Yaqub and three others. According to the court, an unmarked police car rammed the Audi to halt it. Then an armed officer shot three times through the window. Two bullets hit Mr Yaqub in the chest, causing catastrophic blood loss.
The officer, known only as V39, told the inquest he feared for his life after Mr Yaqub brandished a revolver from the dashboard. A loaded gun was found in the footwell beneath the front passenger seat where Mr Yaqub sat. He refused police commands to show his hands, stooping down instead before lifting the weapon.
If I hadn’t opened fire, I would have been shot,” V39 said in his testimony.
Family Outraged, Considering Legal Challenge
Mohammed Yaqub, Yassar’s father, slammed the verdict, calling it an “unlawful murder” and accusing the coroner of denying the jury a chance to rule on that verdict. He blasted the process as unfair and said the family is “actively discussing” fighting the decision.
“We are astonished and perplexed by the conclusion that this was a legal killing. Yassar was ruthlessly taken from my family and me,” said Mohammed Yaqub.
Police and IOPC Stand By Officer’s Actions
West Yorkshire Police Chief Constable John Robins expressed sympathy for the family but said the last six years had been tough for everyone involved. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) confirmed the officer gave a “clear and believable” account of events, supported by evidence.
“We determined the use of force was necessary and appropriate based on the circumstances as the officer reasonably believed them to be,” the IOPC said.
