LAST UPDATE | 30 Dec 2020

A MAN SHOT dead by gardaí during an incident in west Dublin this afternoon has been named locally as 27-year-old George Nkencho. 

Mr Nkencho was involved in two separate incidents in the Hartstown Shopping Centre at around 12.15pm. In both instances, he had threatened members of the public with a knife. 

In one incident, a staff member in the EuroSpar received facial injuries. That man is receiving treatment in hospital for his injuries. Moments later, Mr Nkencho was involved in a public order incident in the local post office. 

Uniform and unarmed Gardaí responded to the scene and observed a man in possession of a knife.

He continued to threaten members of the public and unarmed Gardaí with the knife, a garda statement said this evening.

Gardai followed Mr Nkencho on foot and in vehicles from the Hartstown Shopping Centre towards Manorsfields Drive, Dublin 15. During this period Gardaí were engaging him and encouraging him to drop the weapon.

Multiple videos taken by members of the public in the moments leading up to his death show the 27-year-old, who it is understood had experienced mental health issues, walking across a green area and being followed by marked and unmarked garda cars. 

Mr Nkencho was shot several times by a garda gun at Manorfield Drive in Clonee during the stand-off.

Gardaí have been made aware of several videos taken of the shooting itself and its aftermath. Gsoc is investigating the incident also.

Members of the Armed Support Unit (ASU) arrived at a scene in Manorfields Drive, Dublin 15. 

The ASU was also threatened with a knife. Gardaí said that the ASU “implemented a graduated response where the use of less-lethal force options” which were a taser and pepperspray, “in an effort to resolve the incident”. 

“The less-lethal use of force options were unsuccessful,” said the garda statement.

Following this, at approximately 12.35pm today a member of the Armed Support Unit discharged a number of shots from his official firearm, shooting Mr Nkencho.

He was pronounced dead this afternoon after being transferred to Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown. 

An Garda Síochána are appealing to any person:

• who was in the Eurospar, Post Office or general vicinity of Hartstown Shopping Centre at approximately 12.15pm today 30th December 2020, or
• who were in the vicinity of Cherryfield and Manorsfield Estates, Dublin 15 between 12 midday and 12.35pm
• any person who may have cctv or other video footage of these incidents to contact them.

With reporting by Orla Dwyer