Man killed by police was in crisis, inquest told

The mother of a man shot dead by police after breaking into his former home in south-east London armed with a crossbow and a sword has told an inquest her son was having a mental health crisis at the time.

IT worker Bryce Hodgson was shot after entering the property in Bywater Place, Surrey Quays, armed with the weapons on 30 January 2024.

Jaqueline Hodgson told Southwark Coroner's Court that her son was shy and "non-violent", and that the actions were "entirely at odds" with the person he was throughout the rest of his life.

Mrs Hodgson also told the jury that his family wanted to understand what happened to him and whether there were any missed opportunities to stop it.

Her son had a happy childhood, she said, but his life changed at the beginning of 2023 when he became increasingly anxious, jurors were told.

Speaking of events leading up to her son's death, she said he had received a criminal conviction and and had begun to experience anxiety about his health.

"We were and remain utterly shocked by what happened," Hodgson said, saying her son's actions were "completely out of character".

Describing him as "quiet and unassuming", "emotionally naive" and that she "cannot recognise" the person involved in the incident.

"Bryce will always be loved and missed by his family and his friends," she said.

At the time of the incident, Hodgson had been banned from entering Bywater House, having previously been prosecuted for entering a woman's bedroom without consent while he was living there.

He was convicted of stalking and given a suspended sentence in July 2023, the court heard.

Earlier in the hearing, coroner Dr Julian Morris described how the tragedy unfolded: "In the early hours of January 30 2024 he returned to 27 Bywater Place.

"He was carrying various weapons including a crossbow and a sword.

"Local police who attended first attempted to control the situation but were unable to do so.

"Members of the Metropolitan Police Service firearms unit were tasked with attending and did so soon after.

"Following their attendance two shots were fired."

Medics from both the land and air ambulance tried to resuscitate him but he was pronounced dead at the scene, the court heard.

The inquest is expected to take around four weeks.

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