Former Premier League football player Dalian Atkinson has died after being shot with a taser in the British town of Telford early Monday, according to local media reports.
West Mercia Police said in a statement Monday that an independent investigation has been launched into the death of a man who was shot by police with a Taser.
He was named by local media as Dalian Atkinson, a 48-year-old former player for English soccer team Aston Villa when it played in the Premier League.
West Mercia Police released a statement saying that officers in Telford, about 130 miles northwest of London, had responded “to a report for the concern for the safety of an individual” at about 1.30 a.m. Monday.
“Upon arrival, Taser was deployed and a 48-year-old man, who subsequently received medical attention, was pronounced dead at approximately 3 a.m.” read the statement.
The statement said that the incident had been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), “as is normal procedure,” and that as a result, officials could make no further comment on the case.
Forensic investigators were at the residential street where the incident occurred Monday, and had erected a cordon at the scene.
Tributes flow
Atkinson’s former clubs and teammates were quick to pay tribute on Twitter as news of his death broke Monday.
“RIP Dalian Atkinson. You’ll never be forgotten!” tweeted Aston Villa from the team’s official account.
The team Sheffield Wednesday wrote: “The thoughts of everyone at Wednesday are with the friends and family of Dalian Atkinson this morning. RIP.”
Turkish football giant Fenerbahce, which Atkinson joined in 1995, also paid its respect, while Ipswich Town, where Atkinson began his career as a teenager, tweeted: “Terribly sad news about our former striker. Our thoughts are with Dalian’s family and friends at this tragic time.”
Former England player and broadcaster Gary Lineker wrote: “Terrible news about Dalian Atkinson. Losing his life after being tasered by police. Thoughts are with this fine footballer’s family.”
Sol Campbell, formerly with the England football club, also expressed his shock.
“What?! Former @AVFCOfficial footballer Dalian Atkinson tasered?! Shocked & saddened by this news. Thoughts with friends & family.”
Paul Dickov, a former teammate at Manchester City, wrote: “Tragic news about my old teammate Dalian Atkinson passing away, thoughts & prayers to all.”
Kevin Kilbane, a former Irish representative and football commentator, recalled Atkinson’s most celebrated achievement on the football pitch, a famous solo goal against Wimbledon in 1992.
Darren Byfield, a former Aston Villa player who now manages Redditch United FC, wrote: “What a legend.” Byfield also noted Atkinson “always had time for the young lads growing up at Villa.”
Previous deaths following Taser use
Police use of Tasers has been the subject of public debate since they were introduced in England and Wales in 2003 as a less lethal alternative to firearms.
According to a 2014 IPCC report into complaints about Taser use by British police, there have been 11 cases where a person died after an electroshock weapon was deployed.
Eight of those deaths had been investigated by the time the 2014 report was published, and in none of those cases was the use of a Taser found to have directly caused a death, according to the report.
In a number of those cases, it was found that the deceased had died of self-inflicted wounds, rather than the Taser charge. In one of the cases, the coroner found that the man died of long-standing heart disease.
The most recent UK death following the use of an electroshock weapon occurred in 2013, when 23-year-old Jordan Begley died after he was targeted by police in Manchester following reports of an argument.
According to a 2010 Home Office survey of public attitudes towards Tasers, cited in the IPCC report, nearly three-quarters of respondents supported police use of the devices, with a similar percentage saying they had trust in the police to use them responsibly.
About half of respondents believed their use was justified on people behaving violently or suspected of carrying a weapon, and about a quarter said it was appropriate on someone threatening to do self-harm.
