Man is shot dead by police officers
A man has been shot dead by police, the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has said.
Sussex Police confirmed they attended an incident shortly before lunchtime on Friday in Fernhurst, West Sussex.
A drinker at the Duke of Cumberland pub in the village said police had been called to a hostage situation in a street called The Leys.
The man, who declined to be named, said: "I was told there was a hostage situation and it was an elderly man with an ill wife.
"Apparently he was armed and would not let anyone come near."
A woman living in Ash Grove, which is just off The Leys, said the incident took place in the block of retirement flats in which she lives.
The pensioner, who did not want to give her name, said police had told residents to stay in their homes.
"The police are still here," she said. "They have been here since midday. They won't let us out. I haven't heard any shooting. There was a dog handler earlier and there are at least eight policemen out here, in the courtyard outside."
She said the incident must have taken place on the other side of the block of eight flats. "It's inside one of the flats," she said.
An IPCC spokeswoman said: "At approximately 3pm Sussex Police referred the incident to the IPCC. IPCC investigators have been deployed to the scene to start the inquiry.
