Man shot by police named as Sharif Cousins

A man who was shot by a police officer has been named as Sharif Cousins - a former gang member who had served time in prison for firearms offences.

Mr Cousins, 42, was shot in Hereford Close, Frankley, Birmingham, at around 9pm last night. Police confirmed that he had undergone surgery and had had bullets removed from his chest.

Community sources say he was critically injured, has undergone surgery and is currently in an induced coma.

It understood Mr Cousins was a former gang member who had previously served time in prison for firearms offences.

A second man was arrested on suspicion of firearms offences during the police operation on Wednesday night.

Two other men, aged 17 and 20, and a 53-year-old woman have also been arrested on suspicion of drugs offences.

West Midlands Police has confirmed the officer involved in the shooting was wearing a body camera at the time of the incident.The force has referred all calls on the shooting to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

Mr Cousins set up the New Day Foundation in 2011 and previously spoke about talking to young people in Birmingham, who were at risk of being lured into gangs and criminal behaviour.

He is formerly from Handsworth, was a former member of the Burger Bar Boys and spent nearly 14 years in prison.

In previous interviews he spoke about tackling gangs and set up the foundation to help persuade young people aged 13 to 30, not to get sucked into gang culture, saying young teenagers are the most vulnerable, and admitting it's hard for them due to limited options and not having anything to do.

IPCC commissioner Derrick Campbell is overseeing the police shooting investigation and was at the scene this morning. He has said he will visit Mr Cousins in hospital and meet his family.

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101.

In response to the shooting, the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, David Jamieson said: