‘I just need an answer’: widow haunted by husband’s shooting seeks inquest

Two years after her husband, a mentally ill man, was killed by a Hong Kong police officer, widow Li remains desperate for an explanation. On September 15, 2024, she called the police when her husband attacked his elderly mother at their North Point home. Armed officers stood their ground after finding him holding a knife and scissors. Li's husband was shot at a mere 1.5 meters after allegedly ignoring repeated warnings during a 30-second standoff.

Despite being married for 10 years, Li is still waiting for a death inquest to be held. She has been anxiously awaiting news for two years but has received only a letter confirming the cause of death – a gunshot wound to the chest. In February of the previous year, she inquired about a death inquest, only to be told that the police would submit a report to the Coroner’s Court and recommend an inquest.

Li has been left in limbo ever since, calling the Coroner’s Court every month for updates, a routine she persevered with until the contact person who first assisted her retired. While another officer continued to check in on her, they declined to disclose any details about the investigation. Li’s mental and physical health has suffered as a result of the long wait, with weight loss, memory problems, and sleep disturbances.

Li questions why the officer resorted to firing a fatal shot rather than using non-lethal options. The police have submitted the investigation report to the Coroner’s Court, but the court has yet to make a decision on whether to hold an inquest. Li is left to wonder why she was unable to receive any information about her husband’s death after calling the police for help.