Ben Bray, 21, was shot at the scene by officers with a police-issued firearm. He received first aid at the scene and was taken to hospital.
Armed police leaning over a vehicle on St Edward Street(Image: Anonymous)
A man who was shot by armed police on a street in Newport in July has pleaded guilty to threatening officers with a crossbow. Firearms officers descended on St Edward Street in the Baneswell area of the city late on Friday, July 10, following reports that a man was carrying a crossbow.
Ben Bray, 21, was shot at the scene by officers with a police-issued firearm. He received first aid at the scene and was taken to hospital.
Bray, of St Edward Street, has now pleaded guilty to threatening a person with an offensive weapon in a private place. He has also pleaded guilty to sending a communication threatening death or serious harm on the same day.
Speaking on the day following the incident, local residents recalled the moment armed police flooded their street before shooting the defendant.
Residents say a man was hanging out of one of the windows on the top floor of a HMO armed with a crossbow and pointing it towards the police and threatening to shoot.
Police officers were seen on CCTV obtained by WalesOnline leaning over the top of a car pointing their guns at Bray’s property. It was not until Bray made it to the front door of the property that he was shot by police.
As part of the police investigation following the incident, officers laid the weapon out on the ground outside, alongside evidence markers. Also pictured in the road at the time was paramedic equipment and a large stain on the pavement.
One resident said a small yellow evidence marker was placed outside their front door. Next to it was the bullet shell, they said.
Bray is due to be sentenced on Friday, September 25. He has been remanded in custody. Don’t miss a court report by signing up to our crime newsletter here
A Gwent Police spokesperson issued the following statement in the days after the offence: “Officers, supported by specially-trained firearms officers, were called to an address in St Edward Street at around 11.55pm on Friday, July 10.
“Upon arrival, a man was spotted in possession of a crossbow and he was shot by officers with a police-issued firearm during our response.
“The man received first aid at the scene and was later taken to hospital and has since been discharged. In line with standard procedures, we have made a referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).”
