on the morning of 28 september 1985, a group of police officers raided cherry groce's house on normandy road, brixton, including an armed cid officer, searching for suspected armed robber michael groce. mrs groce was in bed, whilst three of her six children were in residence when the police entered the house with force. during the raid, mrs groce was shot in the chest; after an extensive search, the police did not find michael groce. an ambulance was called, and by the time it had arrived a small crowd had gathered outside the house. mrs groce was taken to st thomas' hospital in central london.