Romanian Shot Dead by Police in Derby After Taser and Stun Grenade Failed

A police officer guards a cordon close to where Marius Ciolac was shot dead by police in the grounds of Ascot Drive police station in Derby on Oct. 7, 2022. PA

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has named a Romanian man who was shot dead by police in the English city of Derby last week and has given more details about the incident.

Marius Ciolac, who was 35, was only shot by police after a Taser and a stun grenade had failed to subdue him, the IOPC said in a statement released on Thursday night.

They said Ciolac had been armed with a knife and had been damaging cars and windows outside Ascot Drive police station in Derby on Oct. 7.

His sister, Andreea Ciolac, 32, told the local newspaper in Derby she only heard about her brother’s death on the news.

Speaking from her home in Italy, Ciolac told the Derby Telegraph: “Marius was clearly in the wrong, he was not innocent. We heard that he had a knife on him. But why kill him? We only found out from the news later that his lawyer said he was having mental health issues.”

The dead man’s sister said he moved to England four years ago to work as a builder but was apparently feeling “lonely” and was planning to move back to Romania.

The IOPC said: “We can confirm that Derbyshire Constabulary officers in an armed response vehicle were called to the building by the force control room at around 9.55am after officers inside reported seeing a man with a knife in the police station car park causing damage to property. This included smashing glass in the entrance door from the car park and windows around it.”

3 Knives Found at the Scene

The IOPC said three knives were found at the scene of the shooting.

They said: “Attempts were made to stop him, including use of a multi-bang stun grenade, discharge of a baton round and a Taser, before a police firearm was discharged at about 10.03am.”

Ciolac, who was from northeast Romania, was taken to hospital in Nottingham where he later died.

IOPC Regional Director Derrick Campbell said: “A lot of rumour about the tragic events of Friday morning has been reported and while it is natural for people to want answers quickly about what happened, I would ask that people show patience and refrain from further speculation out of respect for Mr. Ciolac’s family and for everyone involved.”

The coroner has been informed and will open an inquest later this month.

It was only the second fatal shooting by police this year—the first being that of Chris Kaba, 24, who was shot dead by Metropolitan Police officers as he drove a car in Streatham, south London, on Sept. 5.

It is believed to be the first fatal shooting involving Derbyshire Constabulary since the force was set up in 1967.