Pärnu man fired at police with modified starting pistol – police officer returned fire
A 54-year-old intoxicated man aimed at a police officer in Pärnu with a starting pistol that had been converted into a functional firearm and fired. According to expert assessment, the police officer's return fire was justified.
Pärnu police officer fired at man armed with weapon – expert confirmed firearm's danger
According to Õhtuleht, an investigation into a fatal incident that occurred on Sadama Street in Pärnu on 23 September revealed that a 54-year-old man was intoxicated and the starting pistol in his possession had been converted into a functional firearm. The man pointed the weapon at a police officer and fired – the shot did not hit anyone. The police officer returned fire with his service weapon. The man died from his injuries.
The incident began when police received a call to Sadama Street: a man had shown a weapon to children there. When police arrived, he refused to comply with their orders and aimed the weapon at one of the officers.
According to Olgerd Petersell, senior prosecutor at the Western Court District Prosecutor's Office, criminal investigation expertise confirmed that it was a genuine firearm. "It was a starting pistol that had been converted into a firearm. It can fire bullets and can cause serious or even fatal injuries to a person. The expertise also established that the 54-year-old man fired a shot from his weapon. Body camera footage shows that the man fired a shot which, fortunately, did not hit anyone," said Petersell.
Üllar Kütt, head of the Pärnu Police Department, emphasised that unauthorised conversion of firearms is both dangerous and illegal. According to him, it is impossible to distinguish a starting pistol from a genuine firearm by appearance. "Therefore, police officers must proceed on the assumption that a person may have a firearm. If a person points a weapon at a police officer, a very quick decision must be made to avert the danger," he explained.
Body camera recordings showed that the man pointed the weapon at the police officer immediately before return fire was opened. According to Kütt, the use of a service weapon to avert an immediate threat was necessary and justified, and no charges have been brought against the police officer to date.
The Police and Border Guard Board's Internal Control Bureau is conducting a thorough assessment of the incident – police officers' decisions, conduct and tactics used are under scrutiny. "Every use of a firearm against a person is an extraordinary event for Estonian police. We analyse such incidents thoroughly to assess our current procedures, draw necessary conclusions and use the experience gained in police training," said Kütt.
Kütt also recalled that acquiring and possessing a firearm legally requires a firearms licence and passing the relevant examination.
Source: Õhtuleht