Former Premier League Football Player Dalian Atkinson Shot Fatally With Taser

Former Premier League football player Dalian Atkinson has died after being shot with a taser in the British town of Telford early Thursday, according to local media reports.



West Mercia Police said in a statement Monday that an independent investigation had been launched into the death of a man who was shot by police with a taser.

He was named by local media as Dalian Atkinson, a 48-year-old former player for Premier League soccer team Aston Villa.
West Mercia Police released a statement saying that officers in Telford, about 130 miles northwest of London, had responded "to a report for the concern for the safety of an individual" at about 1.30 a.m. Monday.

An investigation is under way at the location where Atkinson was fatally tasered early Monday.

"Upon arrival, Taser was deployed and a 48-year-old man, who subsequently received medical attention, was pronounced dead at approximately 3 a.m." read the statement.

The statement said that the incident had been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission, "as is normal procedure," and that as a result, officials could make no further comment on the case.