Some London police officers turned in their guns to protest the murder charge against a fellow officer who fatally shot an unarmed Black man in 2022.

The New York Times reports that the Metropolitan Police Service said Monday (Sept. 25) that multiple police officers decided to “step back from armed duties while they consider their position” last weekend.

Police officials said some armed officers were “concerned that it (the murder charge) signals a shift in the way the decisions they take in the most challenging circumstances will be judged.” Unlike their American counterparts, most police officers in Britain do not carry guns. By midday on Monday, many returned to duty.

The unidentified officer, known in court proceedings as NX121, shot Chris Kaba, 24, on Sept. 5, 2022, according to the BBC. The officer fired a single shot to Kaba’s head through his windshield after police vehicles hemmed in Kaba’s car. Kaba was driving an Audi, which did not belong to him, that police linked to a gun incident the previous day.

The Guardian reported that the Crown Prosecution Service announced the murder charge on Wednesday (Sept. 20). A magistrate granted him bail the next day.

“Chris was so very loved by our family and all his friends. He had a bright future ahead of him, but his life was cut short,” Kaba’s family said, according to The Guardian. “Our family and our wider community must see justice for Chris. “We welcome this charging decision, which could not have come too soon. Now we await the trial of the firearms officer without delay and hope and pray that justice will be served.”

London’s Metropolitan Police has faced a crisis of public trust after a police officer raped and murdered Sarah Everard in 2021. That case prompted officials to launch a wide-ranging investigation of the force that uncovered a culture of racism, misogyny and homophobia.

The shooting ignited peaceful protests across London and demands for justice. Kaba was a drill rapper called “Mad Itch” with the group 67. He was also a construction worker on the verge of becoming a father when he died.