Assisted suicide perhaps?
Surely the police shouldn't have helped as its against the law.
Once the area was evacuated then the risk was only to the gunman.
At this early stage it looks like a rather clumsy job by those with proper guns

alex, london, uk

He had a gun, he fired at the police, he could have killed anybody. His death is simple, just because he was highly paid, doesn't automatically guarantee him a special sympathy.

Tom, T&W, UK

Interesting that because he was this 'high flyer' that he gets this coverage. Had it of been the local black guy, or mental health patient, none of this controversy would of occurred.

the point is he had a gun, he was dangerous, and needed to be wiped out. Sorry, these are the facts

martin jones, london, uk

CS or tear gas would have just led to the guy being blinded and firing wildly outwards and his shooting would have intensified. Even a taser would have meant being too close that would risk a policemanes life.
Would responses been different if there were people in the rooms he fired in to?

Chris Nightingale, London,

I think until we know the results of the police investigation it is too early to speculate on how culpable the police are for the death of Mr Saunders. In any event, this incident is a tragedy and my sympathy goes to Mr Saunders' family.

Francis, London,

It is appalling that our 'police state' society has developed to this level. We live in England, not Beirut, and our police should never have been given permission to carry out non-judicial executions in this way. Have our policymakers and lawmakers learnt nothing from the de Menezes fiasco?

Clive L, Cardiff,

Obviously, the Police had difficult choices to make, but seeing as many of them were protected by Kevlar suits and helmets, they could have safely stormed the flat armed with stun grenades and overpowered him. Sadly, in this country , shooting to kill is too often the first resort.

Rory , London, Britain

Hindsight is an exact science - the legals will have months , years to pick through this - the police had split seconds to react to a very dangerous situation - and did so with the correct decision!!!! a truly tragic event for all concerned. spare a thought for all involved on both sides.

Drew, benfleet, england

An armed police officer on containment has a known viable weapon pointed at him/her. Are they supposed to allow the person to keep shooting at them until someone is killed? No. They WILL shoot to stop that person, and stop them as soon as possible so no other lives are put in danger.

Lloyd S, Manchester,

Andy, Crawley. Maybe the CS gas you refer to is not the CS gas I experienced in the Army. The stuff I suffered would incapacitate anyone who is not made of plastic.

But did this man keep a shotgun and ammunition there? And what if he had killed someone? Don't blame the police for this.

Alan Robinson, Bjerreby, Denmark

I met Mark when I was a trainee solicitor in Lincoln 2001. I was in awe of his presence and ability. He was a leading light and I am sorry his light is no longer burning. He inspired me and I am sorry he probably never new this. All I can say is he had the "eye of the tiger"!

Ginny Colman, Norwich, Norfolk

This bloke was in his own house, he was not threatening to go outside. The area was cordened off and nobody needed to be in his line of sight.

The Police could have just sat this seige out and waited for him to calm down, at which point they could have arrested him.

Ed Wood, London, England

A lovely lad. I used to get the bus to King's School with him between 1986-1990. His parents, who I know quite well don't deserve the pain of losing a very talented son. They're such lovely people. I'm still stunned and confused by the whole event. It's a complete catastrophe.

Ben, Macclesfield, UK

I cannot understand the mentality of some contributers to these forums, when we talk about firearms being used in crime, the most commonly used weapon is a shotgun (full or sawn off). Any notion that these weapons are anything less than deadly should be dispelled. this man caused his own death.

Mick Pearson, Blackburn,

The man was a trained artillery soldier possessing dangerous weapons. If his intention was to maim or kill he would have done so. Other avenues could have been pursued. Such a very sad wasting of a life.

seb, doncaster, united kingdom

I suspect that if the gunman had not been his son Mr Saunders would have felt very differently about the Police action. What we should be asking here is why someone who lives and works in Central London needs to keep a shotgun and ammunition at his home address.

Neil, Gloucestershire, England

How is it that the 'sentence' for breaking a few windows is 'death by firing squad'.
If he were a bank robber who shot three Policeman and two bank tellers the 'establishment' would insist that the death penalty was unnacceptable. Seems odd to me.

John Evans, New Ash Green, Kent, UK

Frederick, have you ever experienced tear or CS gas? Whilst it is an incapacitating agent, it is not so effective that it could neutralise the threat posed by a dangerous man with a shotgun. The police were left with little choice on how to end this incident.

Andy, Crawley, England

Tear gas and stun grenades would have sorted this.His bird gun was non lethal beyond 30 yds.

Simon , Epping, England

It is a catch 22: If the police had not stopped him and he had hurt or killed somebody they would have been accused of having been too light handed. Sadly it seems like a case of rage, something most of us can emphathise with, I throw my laptop around,but if I had a gun who knows what I would do...

fiona, London,

Shot at least 5 times from different weopens, who cares?!

If this chap wasnt a high end lawyer, who lived in the centre of the universe (london...) this is the last article that would be mentioned.

You cant exchange gun fire with armed police and expect to walk out alive.

Tim, Oxford,

Dead is dead - wherever you are shot. Give the police some credit - running around in BMWs and Mercs with big guns they have to earn their pay. Have they never heard of tear.gas?

Frederick, London, UK

Why is there an inquest ? This man was randomly shooting at people and got what he was asking for .

Benzo , Nr Chelmsford,

I do not understand the British police need to kill people, this guy had no hostages, was making no demands and was in his own home. The senseless loss of life and for no reason.

Martin, New Malden, UK

That's decided then. Disarm the Police, give them tranquiliser darts!!? or even better sleeping gas (as somebody has suggested) - This wasn't an episode of Batman, this was real, with live ammunition being fired into a London high street - less lethal options were not appropriate.

Steve Malbon, Hanley, England

What a way to go - a waste of a talented bloke by all accounts.
Well done to the police for removing a threat efficiently.

Chris, Portsmouth,

Suicide by cop ?

It's very sad that this young man, troubled by depression and addicted to alcohol should provoke a situation that would lead to his death. Having issued a gun license to someone, is there a mechanism wherby this can be revoked if a person becomes ill like this ?

Andrei, Chelmsford, UK

What type of guns would they have been using if they have different bullets?

Why would they have different bullets, i always assumed they'll all be carrying identical weapons and ammo?

Where they using the same bullets they shot De Mendez with, them special one's they where given that day?

Andrew T, England, UK,

If it is true that Mark Saunders father did criticise the Police handling of the siege in which his son was killed. Perhaps he will explain what was wrong and how it should have been dealt with differently.

Thomas Stallwood, Malaga, Spain