after being released from prison two months before, whilst out on license michael became concerned with a turf-war between local street gangs. subsequently, given a gun for protection by a friend, a few days before the riots michael was in an argument with his girlfriend at his mother's house, and in a fit of showing-off fired the gun into a wardrobe. shortly afterwards, he heard a knock on the door and went down to answer it, finding a police officer enquiring if he was michael groce. he attempted to close the door, but after the police officer would not let him, michael put the gun into the officer's mouth. after the officer left, michael cleaned the gun and placed it in the house, then fled to his sister's home.