It has been confirmed that ‘no police officer is under investigation’ following the recent crossbow shooting in High Wycombe.

In the evening of Friday, May 10, 54-year-old Jason King is accused of stabbing one of his neighbours, a man in his 60s, in School Close, Downley, before shooting a crossbow at a policeman who attended the scene.

King was then gunned down by an armed officer moments after the incident and was taken to hospital with potentially life-changing injuries.

He was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder on May 10, before being charged with the following on Wednesday, May 22:

  • Two counts each of; Section 18 - wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm and possession of an offensive weapon in a private place,
  • One count each of; possession of an offensive weapon in a public place,
  • Affray
  • Possession of a knife in a public place
  • Criminal damage
  • Cultivation of cannabis a class B controlled drug
  • Possession of cannabis a class B controlled drug
  • Assault by beating an emergency worker

He appeared at High Wycombe Magistrates Court on Thursday, May 23 via a video link from Reading Crown Court, wearing a blanket and using a Zimmer frame.

He was remanded in custody ahead of a plea hearing at Aylesbury Crown Court on June 18.

Following the incident, the Independent Office for Police Conduct launched an investigation into the shooting.

A mandatory referral was made from Thames Valley Police (TVP) after the armed man [King] was seriously injured.

He was discharged from the hospital this week.

Police body-worn footage, accounts from the officers present, and reviewed police call logs have been used in the inquiries, the IOPC said.

IOPC regional director Charmaine Arbouin said: “Police shootings are fortunately rare, however, given that a man has been seriously injured after being shot, an independent investigation must be carried out to establish what happened, not least because a police officer was also injured.

“No police officer is under investigation for either misconduct or criminality – they are being treated as witnesses.”

Following the stabbing and shooting, sections of School Close in Downley were cordoned off for several days. 

Blood on one of the front doors of the properties involved was still seen roughly three days after the incident, whilst the crossbow was retrieved by police.

The man who was stabbed and the officer who was shot were treated by paramedics at a nearby hospital, before being discharged later that evening.