A police firearms officer and his team came under a “sustained hail of bullets” as they tried to arrest wanted man Alistair Bell.
An inquest jury heard dramatic evidence from police officers at the scene in Kirkheaton.
The police team leader, referred to as D1, told a jury at Bradford Coroner’s Court that he had never come under such heavy fire during his nine-year career as a firearms officer.
Sgt D1 told jurors that he was struck by brick dust after a bullet whistled past his head and struck a wall outside Bell’s Kirkheaton home on the night of December 27, 2010.
Officers had been trying to arrest Bell, 42, of Cockley Hill Lane, after he had threatened neighbours and shot a policeman earlier in the evening.
After firing 34 rounds during the standoff, Bell was shot dead by police marksman ‘D20’, who is expected to give evidence next week.
Yesterday, D1 told jurors that he and his officers had come under heavy fire as they approached Bell’s house.
He said: “When we came into view of the premises we came under a sustained hail of bullets. We were shot at from the premises.”
Heavily armed officers dived for cover behind a wall and an armoured vehicle was summoned to provide extra shelter.
D1 told the inquest that as he attempted to set up a spotlight – to give officers a clearer view of Bell’s house – he was fired upon.
He said: “It was as if I felt one bullet zip past my face. Another hit the garage. It had pebble dash which sprayed into my face.
“As a result I threw myself back onto the ground.”
D1 said Bell’s assault continued on and off for approximately two hours with Bell firing bursts out of the windows.
A ‘lull’ followed until officers broke a downstairs window and threw in a camera-equipped reconnaissance robot.
D1 said: “Almost immediately something came through the front door, a large object.”
The sergeant added he heard Bell shout: “You’re going to shoot me. You’re going to kill me.”
The court heard the siege ended when Bell came down the stairs pointing a gun.
He was shot three times, once fatally in the head.
D1 told jurors D20 had fired in a ‘controlled and measured’ manner.
Representing West Yorkshire Police, counsel Hugh Davies QC asked: “Have you ever been subject to live fire of this sort in your career?”
D1 replied: “No, sir. Never.”
The officer added that using a Taser or non-lethal ‘baton round’ would not have been possible.
The inquest continues.
