This is the suspected replica assault rifle pointed at officers by a former Army medic shot twice by armed police in Runcorn yesterday.
The blue and black colour scheme matches SA80 assault rifle BB and airsoft imitation firearms widely available for sale online.
SA80 is the standard issue semi-automatic rifle of the British Army.
Disturbing footage shows armed police open fire on the former soldier after he lifted a suspected weapon and pointed it in their direction.
He was lying on a short hill at The Knoll flats in Palacefields, Runcorn, at around 1.20pm, where he was spotted with the item.
The officers had been telling him to show his hands and not to pick up the apparent gun.
A source close to the former soldier said he was due to undergo surgery this morning to locate a bullet believed to have entered his abdomen.
Another bullet is believed to have hit and broken his ribs.
It was not known whether he would survive.
A close friend of the casualty told the ECHO the former soldier served 22 years in the Army including tours in Iraq and the Bosnia crisis.
Cheshire police have referred the incident to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.
It is the usual procedure for when someone is shot by police officers in the UK.
Investigators remained at the scene today, conducting a fingertip search of the area where the man was lying when shot.
They were also scanning the ground with a metal detector.
The spot is on the edge of a car park with three blocks on flats on three sides.
The hill is on the fourth side.
In a statement published yesterday, Chief Inspector Sarah Heath, of Runcorn Local Policing Unit, said: “I would like to reassure the local community that this is an isolated incident and there is no risk to the public.
“Officers will remain in the area as we continue with our enquiries and I would urge anyone with any concerns to speak to an officer.
“In line with normal procedure, the incident has been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.”
Anyone who witnessed the incident, or anyone with any video footage, is asked to contact Cheshire police on 101 quoting IML 778324 or visit https://www.cheshire.police.uk/ro/report .
