The man shot dead by police outside Milton Keynes railway station on Tuesday has been formally identified as 38-year-old David Joyce. According to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), Mr Joyce lived in Milton Keynes and died after being shot once in the abdomen when he “moved at speed” towards armed officers with a knife in hand.
Thames Valley Police were called to the scene shortly before 1pm following a 999 call reporting that a man was allegedly carrying a gun. However, no firearm was recovered at the scene—only a knife was found, along with other evidence.
Investigators from the IOPC confirmed that Mr Joyce was outside the station’s main entrance when he advanced on officers with the knife. A single shot was fired by one police officer at close range. Despite efforts by police to administer first aid, Mr Joyce was pronounced dead at the scene.
A post-mortem examination conducted on Thursday confirmed that the cause of death was a single gunshot wound to the abdomen. Mr Joyce’s next of kin have been informed, and the IOPC is in contact with his family, with plans to meet them soon.
IOPC Regional Director Derrick Campbell expressed condolences, stating: “Our thoughts are with the family and friends of this man and all of those affected by this tragic incident.”
He continued: “Given a man has died after being shot by police, our role is to independently investigate all of the circumstances surrounding this incident, including the actions and decisions taken by the police. We know the community will want answers quickly and our investigators are working hard to establish the facts.”
The IOPC is appealing for any witnesses or individuals with footage of the incident to come forward. Investigators have already reviewed a significant amount of CCTV and police bodycam footage and have spoken to several witnesses, but are seeking further assistance from anyone who may have been in the area at the time.
The police cordon at the scene has now been lifted.
Anyone with information or footage is urged to contact the IOPC directly.
This is a developing story. Further updates will be provided as the investigation progresses.
