South London police officer Matt Ratana shot in custody centre

September 30, 2020 54-year-old Metropolitan Police sergeant Matiu "Matt" Ratana was shot at the Croydon, South London custody centre, at roughly 2am local time (0100 ) on Friday by a prisoner, suspected to be 23-year-old Louis De Zoysa. As of Monday, De Zoysa was reportedly still in critical condition, after a bullet hit him in the neck.

A man suspected to have supplied the gun to De Zoysa was arrested in Norfolk at 2am local time (0100 UTC) on Sunday.

Sergeant Ratana underwent open heart surgery at the centre and was then airlifted to hospital, but he was later pronounced dead.

Sergeant Ratana, from, New Zealand, served in the , New Zealand police force for five years. Reportedly the sergeant was due to retire in two months, and an acquaintance said he moved to the custody centre for its greater safety.

The alleged shooter was at the centre after being detained earlier Friday in an area near, , for possession of ammunition and.