On a warm spring evening in May 2024, the quiet streets of School Close in Downley, High Wycombe, were shattered by a violent rampage that would leave a community shaken and a police officer seriously injured. Jason King, a 55-year-old resident of the area, was at the center of the chaos—a man whose actions that evening would ultimately result in a 12-year sentence and national headlines.
The events unfolded rapidly on May 10, 2024, at around 6 pm. According to Thames Valley Police and court records reported by the BBC, King became embroiled in an altercation with his neighbor, Alistair Mahwuto, a man in his sixties. The dispute, described in court as “long-standing,” escalated until King stabbed Mahwuto in the stomach with a small knife. The wound, which measured two centimeters, could have been fatal had it landed just a bit higher, Mahwuto later told the court. He was treated in hospital and discharged the same day, but the psychological impact lingered. "The incident has affected me more than I would have ever imagined," Mahwuto said in a statement read to the court, emphasizing the lasting trauma from the attack.
As Mahwuto was rushed to safety, King fled the scene, but his violence did not end there. Police were quickly called to School Close, and what followed was a harrowing confrontation. When unarmed Thames Valley Police officers arrived, King began firing a crossbow at them from an upstairs window of his home. The officers, realizing the imminent danger, withdrew and called for armed backup. But King was not content to remain inside; he exited the property, crossbow in hand, and chased after the officers.
PC Curtis Foster, one of the responding officers, was struck in the leg by a crossbow bolt as King pursued him. The wound was perilously close to an artery, measuring two to three centimeters, and required urgent medical attention. Foster would later reflect on the experience, saying, "The incident changed my outlook on life a bit. I feel more protective about my colleagues now. I don't want anyone else to experience what I experienced." He added that it had "knocked" his confidence and that a doctor told him the injury could have been "catastrophic." Fortunately, Foster made a full recovery, but the ordeal left a deep impression on him and his fellow officers.
King continued his rampage, threatening a police dog handler and police dog, PD Merlyn, with the crossbow. Miraculously, neither the handler nor the dog was injured. At this point, School Close was placed on immediate lockdown, with residents told to stay indoors as King, in the words of Thames Valley Police, "posed a significant threat to the local community." The sense of danger was palpable, and video footage released by police later captured the aggression and chaos of the scene.
King then fled to a nearby park, still armed and dangerous. Armed officers confronted him there, ordering him to drop the crossbow. Instead, King began moving toward the park exit—the same direction PC Foster had run to escape. In a split-second decision, an armed officer fired a single shot, striking King in the abdomen and bringing the immediate threat to an end. King was given first aid at the scene and transported to hospital under police supervision with potentially life-changing injuries. He was discharged ten days later and promptly arrested.
The aftermath of the incident saw the community reeling and questions swirling about what had motivated such extreme violence. At King’s sentencing at Aylesbury Crown Court on August 20, 2025, Judge Jonathan Cooper addressed King directly, noting that his actions were motivated in part by “revenge” and a “sense of grievance” toward his neighbors and police. The judge remarked, "I note that you purchased the crossbow, I don’t accept it was for recreational purposes. I consider that this was an attempt by you to arm yourself in the event of need." The court also heard that King’s behavior on the day—chasing officers and continuing to shoot at them—was evidence of him "attempting to settle a score with police." Prosecutor Graham Smith described how officers saw King “grinning” as he exited his address before shooting PC Foster, and said it was “great fortune” the officer had not suffered greater injuries.
King pleaded guilty to a host of charges: grievous bodily harm with intent, grievous bodily harm, affray, possession of an offensive weapon (the crossbow), and possession of a bladed article (the knife). Two other charges—criminal damage and cultivation of cannabis—will lie on file. The court sentenced him to nine years in prison with a further three years on extended licence, reflecting the gravity of his actions and the risk he posed to the public.
During the sentencing, King’s defense counsel, Mark Kimsey, argued that King had been suffering from a “worsening mental condition” and that the crossbow, which cost less than £20, was legally available for purchase without a license. Kimsey described King’s erratic behavior, including a belief that he could speak to his neighbor’s dog and communicate with an Egyptian god. In the courtroom, King himself waved and made a heart gesture to his family, occasionally interrupting the judge.
The response from Thames Valley Police was resolute. Senior Investigating Officer Detective Inspector Nick Hind praised the officers involved, stating, “The courage of our officers in dealing with this incident was second to none. On what was a warm spring evening, King undertook some extreme violence, stabbing a neighbour before arming himself with a crossbow and going back outside, where he posed a considerable threat to the local community.” Hind emphasized that the swift and decisive actions of the officers likely prevented a mass casualty event, adding, “King was an extremely dangerous man, who posed a significant threat to police, other emergency services, and members of the community.”
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) conducted a mandatory review of the police shooting, concluding in November 2024. The watchdog praised the "courage, professionalism and sound judgment" of the officers involved, noting that their actions brought the incident to a close without further injury to the public. The IOPC also commended the call handler, Vicky Price, who calmly managed the initial 999 call despite being new in the role.
The community of Downley, and indeed the wider High Wycombe area, was left to reflect on a night when ordinary lives were upended by violence. As Detective Inspector Hind put it, "The community and residents of Downley are much safer for it. I would like to thank everybody in the community for their support and understanding while we investigated this horrific incident." For those who lived through it, the scars—both physical and emotional—may take much longer to heal.
