This Morning fans’ horror as Dermot and Alison welcome man who shot a police officer onto the sofa
THIS Morning fans were left horrified when Dermot O'Leary and Alison Hammond welcomed a man who shot a police officer onto the sofa earlier today.
The hosts spoke to guests Leroy Smith and James Seymour about their unique story during today's instalment of the ITV show.
Leroy shot metropolitan police officer James outside a south London pub in 1993.
Shortly after he fled the country, but was later found and spent nearly 20 years in prison for his crime.
Now, 29 years after the incident, the pair have joined forces to try and help young people get out of gang culture and violence.
Leroy had sent someone to get some money from a pub in Brixton, but they failed to do so. The ex-gangster then decided that he would go and collect it himself on his motorbike.
He knew that if he was stopped by the police, he would have been sent down for a long time because he had just escaped prison, and had drugs and firearm on him.
Recalling the night, James said: "I went to search the rider, who dropped something on the floor, which I think was crack cocaine and I went to push him against the wall so I could collect the evidence, and that's when in my peripheral vision, I saw Leroy struggling with my colleague and my colleague nearly had the better of Leroy.
"They were both on the ground on the pavement and then I saw Leroy pull a handgun out, managed to free a hand, pull a handgun out, hit my colleague in the leg, obviously the gun fired, broke my colleague's collar bone and Leroy told me to disappear.
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"It's almost like slow motion now, this isn't really happening and I turned... what do you do? I've got an injured colleague, I've got nothing I can do to protect myself, absolutely helpless, it's a real horrible experience.
"As I turned around Leroy fired another shot which hit me about a centre metre from my spine and went across the top of my kidney and ripped out the side."
After Leroy served his prison sentence he decided to write a book and educate people about gang violence.
James' victim support officer told him about Leroy's book and contacted the publisher to get in touch with Leroy.
He told Alison and Dermot: "I just thought if Leroy really is genuine, what better moral support to have than his victims."
Many viewers flocked to Twitter to share their shock over their story.
One viewer wrote: "I don't watch TV but just caught #ThisMorning - why are we now glorifying someone who shot a police officer? He should never have seen the light of day again! What has this country become?"
Another questioned: "Would you forgive him if he had shot your fellow officer and killed him? #thismorning."
However, others praised the two for having the strength to appear on television and talk about their experience.
One said: "#ThisMorning anyone else sitting crying at Leroy and James What an amazing story of forgiveness."
"That was so wholesome, Leroy is a great example to all young people that it’s never too late to make a positive change in your life," another said.
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A third tweeted: "Can’t say I was impressed with Leroy’s previous way of life. But always admire anyone that can turn it around & use it help others. Well done to the police man for his mindset & contribution too!"
- This Morning airs on ITV
