Posing for the camera, this is the former engineering student suspected of shooting dead policeman Matt Ratana.
Alleged gunman Louis De Zoysa, 23, remains in a critical condition after apparently blasting himself during a tussle with officers after Sgt Ratana was hit in the heart inside his own station last week.
These images of De Zoysa posing with a 5ft medieval sword emerged after claims from friends in his school leavers’ book that he was ‘good with weapons’. And it came as further details were revealed about his life yesterday.
One former classmate has claimed De Zoysa was caught with an air gun at school and would also surf the dark web and had an ‘anti-establishment attitude’.
De Zoysa excelled at the Catholic John Fisher School in Purley, south London, before studying mechanical engineering at University College London – where these images of him with the blade and shield were taken in 2017.
Louis De Zoysa, 23, posing with a 5ft medieval sword. He is suspected of shooting dead Sgt Matt Ratana
The photos of De Zoysa posing with the sword have emerged after school friends said he was good with weapons
Sergeant Matt Ratana was shot dead in a London police station on Friday by a handcuffed suspect
Friends said he was very intelligent but dropped out after just a year.
Now 23, a former classmate told the Mirror: ‘I was told he got in trouble for bringing some kind of air gun into school. He didn’t show signs that he was obsessed with guns but he knew a lot.
‘He was one of the people at school who wasn’t afraid to break the rules.’
De Zoysa and his four siblings were brought up by their translator mother and yoga teacher father in Norbury, south London. Friends have previously spoken of their middle-class lifestyle and his younger brother now attends Oxford University.
However, one neighbour who knew the family well yesterday said the De Zoysa house was notorious in the street for loud arguments and aggressive dogs which were bred for money.
The source said that his father Channa, from Sri Lanka, struggled to hold down regular employment.
The neighbour also claimed to have witnessed arguments which spilled out into the street. It backs up reports that De Zoysa’s British mother, Elizabeth, took out a restraining order against her husband in 2015. This was withdrawn last year when they reconciled.
The neighbour added that she filed a police report when De Zoysa was in his early teens, claiming to have heard gun shots from the garden of the property.
‘Some neighbours felt bullied by them,’ she said. ‘The family were known because their dogs would bark all the time. They were like wild guard dogs.
‘The family had some really bad problems. I would often hear loud arguments with very strong language. ‘
Metropolitan Police officer Sgt Ratana was shot when De Zoysa, who had been arrested for alleged possession of ammunition and Class B drugs in south London, was brought into his police station in Croydon.
Searches are still being carried out at a house, believed to be the suspect’s family home, in Norbury, south-west London
Despite being cuffed and searched outside, the suspect is believed to have smuggled a revolver inside and shot Sgt Ratana as he took his temperature to comply with Covid regulations.
Five shots were fired at 2.15am on Friday, including one which left De Zoysa in hospital. Detectives have as yet been unable to speak to him.
The Met Police said searches are continuing at De Zoysa’s family home and more than 30 acres of farmland in Banstead, Surrey.
A second man has been arrested in Norwich on suspicion of supplying a firearm.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Stuart Cundy said: ‘We’ve traced a number of witnesses who have been able to contribute significant information.’
Girlfriend Su Bushby, 44, who lived with Sgt Ratana in Worthing, Sussex, has called him her ‘gentle giant’ and ‘soulmate’. A fund in his memory has been set up by the Metropolitan Police’s Hayes Sports Club.
The New Zealand-born officer joined Scotland Yard in 1991 and was head coach at East Grinstead Rugby Club. His grown-up son lives overseas.
Officers in his home country yesterday honoured Sgt Ratana with a haka as part of their Police Remembrance Day.
Police probing Sgt Ratana’s murder search field in Surrey while forensics remain at 23-year-old suspect’s south London family home four days after ‘he shot dead officer inside police station’
Forensic officers are still searching the home of Louis De Zoysa, the 23-year-old murder suspect thought to have shot dead Sergeant Matt Ratana in a London police station four days ago.
Officers are also combing a field in Surrey as part of the investigation into Sgt Ratana’s killing.
Sgt Ratana, 54, was shot as he was preparing to search a handcuffed suspect, believed to be De Zoysa, who had managed to smuggle a revolver into the custody suite in Croydon, south London on Friday.
Detectives are yet to speak to the suspect, who remains in a critical condition in hospital after he shot himself as he opened fire with a revolver while handcuffed behind his back.
Searches are still being carried out at a house, believed to be the suspect’s family home, in Norbury, south-west London. The property belongs to Channa de Zoysa and his wife Elizabeth, who live there with their sons John and 23-year-old Louis.
Forensic searches are also being carried out at a property in Banstead, in Surrey.
The Metropolitan Police said the second location includes access to several derelict buildings and more than 30 acres of land, with the ‘complex’ search expected to take days to complete.
Sergeant Matt Ratana was shot dead in a London police station on Friday by a handcuffed suspect
Searches are still being carried out at a house, believed to be the suspect’s family home, in Norbury, south-west London
The property belongs to Channa de Zoysa and his wife Elizabeth, who live there with their sons John and 23-year-old Louis
Croydon Custody Centre, where the shooting took place, remains a crime scene, while searches in London Road, in Pollards Hill, south London – where De Zoysa was arrested – and a location in central London have also been carried out.
Deputy assistant commissioner Stuart Cundy said on Tuesday: ‘The murder of Sgt Ratana sent shockwaves through the Metropolitan Police Service.
‘Nevertheless his colleagues are determined to find justice for him and his family.’
Mr Cundy said: ‘It is five days since the murder of our colleague and our work continues at a high tempo.
‘We have traced a number of witnesses who have been able to contribute significant information about the events leading up to the shooting.
Louis De Zoysa, the 23-year-old murder suspect thought to have shot dead Sergeant Matt Ratana in a London police station four days ago
‘We continue to pursue multiple lines of inquiry and consider the results of initial forensic examinations, including of the gun recovered from custody.’
No police firearms were discharged in the incident, and the case is not being treated as terror-related.
A man is still in custody at a south London police station after he was arrested in Norwich, Norfolk, on suspicion of supplying a firearm.
The suspect had been arrested for possession of ammunition and possession of class B drugs with intent to supply following a stop and search, before being handcuffed and taken to Croydon Custody Centre.
According to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), he was taken into the building and sat in a holding area in the custody suite, then opened fire while still in the handcuffs as officers prepared to search him with a metal detector.
A fund in memory of Sgt Ratana has been set up by the Met’s Hayes Sports Club, known as the Warren, where Matt was said to be a regular visitor.
The New Zealand-born officer, who joined the Met in 1991, was head coach at East Grinstead Rugby Club.
Officers in his home country honoured Sgt Ratana with a haka as part of their Police Remembrance Day.
The group of officers carried out the traditional Māori dance at Porirua College near Wellington following the shooting last Friday in Croydon, South London.
Detectives are yet to speak to the suspect, who remains in a critical condition in hospital after he shot himself as he opened fire with a revolver while handcuffed behind his back
Tributes have been left to Sgt Ratana including rugby shirts and flowers in Croydon today
New Zealander Sgt Ratana, 54, was shot as he was preparing to search a handcuffed suspect who had managed to smuggle a revolver into the custody suite.
Originally from Hawke’s Bay, Sgt Ratana went to the UK in 1989 while in his early 20s and joined the Metropolitan Police in London two years later.
But the much-loved sergeant returned to New Zealand to serve for Auckland City and Counties Manukau police between 2003 and 2008, before going back to Britain.
His partner of five years, Su Bushby, on Monday said: ‘I know Matt touched many, many people’s lives with his friendliness, patience, kindness, enthusiasm and caring ways.
‘I had the pleasure of sharing five years of my life with this lovely man – my gentle giant, with his infectious smile and big heart. I think of him with tenderness and love.’
Haka for slain sergeant: Moment New Zealand cops perform Maori dance to honour ex-colleague Sgt Matt Ratana who was shot dead after moving to UK and joining Met Police
Police officers in New Zealand performed a haka today in memory of Sergeant Matt Ratana four days after he was shot dead inside a custody centre in London.
The group of officers carried out the traditional Māori dance at Porirua College near Wellington following the shooting last Friday in Croydon, South London.
New Zealander Sgt Ratana, 54, was shot as he was preparing to search a handcuffed suspect who had managed to smuggle a revolver into the custody suite.
Originally from Hawke’s Bay, Sgt Ratana went to the UK in 1989 while in his early 20s and joined the Metropolitan Police in London two years later.
But the much-loved sergeant returned to New Zealand to serve for Auckland City and Counties Manukau police between 2003 and 2008, before going back to Britain.
New Zealander Sergeant Matt Ratana, 54, was shot as he was preparing to search a handcuffed suspect who had managed to smuggle a revolver into a custody suite
The group of New Zealand police officers carried out the traditional Māori dance at Porirua College near Wellington today following a memorial service
Every new constable at the beginning of their career in the New Zealand police takes part in the haka to the memorial wall at Porirua College (pictured today)
He was remembered in a service that also paid tribute to New Zealand Constable Matthew Hunt, 28, who was killed in a traffic stop in Massey, West Auckland, in June.
Speaking during the service today, New Zealand Police Commissioner Andrew Coster said: ‘Our recruits will perform a haka to the memorial wall.
‘This haka ensures the manner of our slain officers never diminishes. Every new constable at the beginning of their career in police takes part in the haka to the wall as Matthew (Hunt) did.
‘The haka says ‘let our hearts beat as one, let our thoughts be united, let our cause be collective’. In my view this very eloquently express why we’re gathered here today.
‘We also take this opportunity to remember London Metropolitan Police Sergeant Matui Ratana who was shot on duty just days ago.
‘Matui was also a part of the New Zealand police family having served with us from 2003 to 2008. Described by former colleagues as a ‘larger than life character’, we remember him today.’
The performance was praised on social media today, with West Midlands Police Chief Superintedent Chris Todd tweeting: ‘What an impressive tribute. No need to say anymore…the clip says it all. #RIPMattRatana.’
The Metropolitan Police Federation account added: ‘Colleagues in New Zealand have performed a Haka to remember their fallen colleagues at their Police Remembrance Day service.
‘This year they included Sgt Matt Ratana, of the Metropolitan Police, amongst those they remembered. Thank you.’
It comes after Sgt Ratana’s partner Su Bushby paid tribute to her ‘gentle giant’.
Speaking for the first time since his death, Ms Bushby, his girlfriend of five years, said last night that he had an ‘infectious smile and big heart’.
Yesterday new images surfaced of the 23-year-old alleged gunman as a smartly-dressed Catholic schoolboy – who friends described as being ‘good with weapons’.
Some of the flowers which have been left at Croydon custody centre today following his death
Louis De Zoysa, of Norbury, South London, remains in a critical condition in hospital with a neck injury after allegedly shooting himself when five shots were discharged while his hands were handcuffed behind his back.
Such is De Zoysa’s condition, he is yet to be questioned by police in connection with Sgt Ratana’s murder.
Last night former peers from his all-boys school revealed startling details about the ‘odd’ suspect’s life, describing him as an ‘incredibly smart’ aspiring Oxbridge student who was often bullied.
Alongside Miss Bushby’s tribute, the Metropolitan Police released a poignant image of Sgt Ratana receiving a good service medal from Commissioner Cressida Dick in 2017.
The father of one, a police officer for 29 years, was due for retirement next year.
Miss Bushby, 44, who lived with Sgt Ratana in Worthing, West Sussex, added: ‘There aren’t really any words for how I am feeling right now about the loss of Matt; about losing someone I loved and was so close to in such a tragic manner.
‘I know Matt touched many, many people’s lives with his friendliness, patience, kindness, enthusiasm and caring ways.
‘I had the pleasure of sharing five years of my life with this lovely man – my gentle giant, with his infectious smile and big heart. I think of him with tenderness and love. Matt was my partner, friend, confidant, support and soulmate. He will be greatly missed but never forgotten. Matt will always be in my head and in my heart.’
On Friday, Commissioner Dick said that Sgt Ratana was a ‘big guy’ with a ‘big heart’.
She added: ‘He was a talented police officer, captain of his recruits’ training class.
Sergeant Matiu Ratana (pictured with his partner Sue) was allegedly shot by a 23-year-old man who was detained for possession of ammunition at Croydon custody centre in South London
A year from retirement, the inspirational police officer (pictured) had thrown himself into coaching and was looking forward to being able to focus fully on nurturing future rugby stars
Louis De Zoysa is suspected of shooting dead the police officer in Croydon last Friday
‘A lovely man, respected by his colleagues, officers, staff and of course by members of the public, including, I may say, suspects arrested or dealt with in custody.
‘He will be remembered so fondly in Croydon and missed there, as well as in the Met and in the rugby world.’
She continued: ‘I do understand that there is great concern about how this happened, how this could have happened. I want to reassure everyone the facts will be established, we owe that to Matt.’
Tributes have also since been paid by Prince Charles and Boris Johnson, with Home Secretary Priti Patel and London Mayor Sadiq Khan laying wreaths as remembrance services were held across the country.
Sgt Ratana’s colleagues view floral tributes at Croydon custody suite in London yesterday
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick (centre) joined Home Secretary Priti Patel (left) and London Mayor Sadiq Khan (right) at London’s National Police Memorial on Sunday
Members of the East Grinstead rugby club in West Sussex where Sgt Ratana was head coach linked arms as they laid his club jacket on the pitch and held a minute’s silence on Sunday
Yesterday, dozens of forensics officers could be seen trawling the £700,000 family home of De Zoysa as Scotland Yard continued their murder investigation.
Another man was arrested in Norwich on Sunday on suspicion of supplying a firearm as part of the murder investigationArmed police have also searched a farm property in the Banstead area of Surrey which was a former ammunitions dump during the Second World WarOn Saturday, officers carried out a controlled explosion to enter a building on the site.