Manchester Police Officer Faces Shooting Probe

4 April 2012, 16:57 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50

A police officer, who shot dead an unarmed man in a village car park in Cheshire faces a criminal inquiry.

36 year old Anthony Paul Grainger, died of a single gunshot wound to the chest after his car was stopped in Culcheth last month.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission said it had been advised by the prosecutors to “criminally interview” the Greater Manchester Police firearms officer who did it.

Mr Grainger died in what police described as a “pre-planned operation”.

But the IPCC said no weapons were found in the vehicle, which had been stolen and had false registration plates.

The watchdog has told Mr Grainger's family that the shooting was being investigated as a criminal matter.

A spokesman said: “The Independent Police Complaints Commission served a formal notice of investigation on a Greater Manchester Police firearms officer on Monday as part of its investigation into the fatal shooting.

“A notice has been served on the officer who fired the fatal shot to explain that his actions are under investigation.

“He has been advised that he will be criminally interviewed in due course.

Mr Grainger, an “odd job man”, was born in Salford and lived in Deane Church Lane, Bolton.