A 16-year-old boy was shot dead yesterday by a policeman, who was responding to a report of a disturbance at Patentia Secondary School, West Bank Demerara.
Kelvin Anthony Fraser of Patentia Housing Scheme was shot in the chest and was pronounced dead on arrival at the West Demerara Regional Hospital. Police said Fraser was shot during a scuffle, while an eyewitness told this newspaper that Fraser was fleeing at the time. Police said the shooting, which occurred around 13:15 hrs yesterday, is being investigated.
In a statement, the police said the ranks were responding to a report of a group of men molesting female students at the Patentia Secondary School. “Initial investigations indicate that the headmistress of the school reported to a member of the Community Policing Group who in turn informed the police at Wales Police Station concerning the molesting of the female students. The police responded promptly and on arrival at the school six youths were pointed out as the perpetrators,” the police said. “On seeing the police four of the youths ran away while two were arrested. The ranks pursued the four youths and caught up with Kelvin Fraser at Third Street, Patentia Housing Scheme. During efforts to arrest him a scuffle ensued between himself and a rank who was armed with a service shotgun which went off, hitting Fraser to his chest,” the police said. Fraser was taken to the West Demerara Regional Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
At the scene yesterday afternoon, few persons were aware that Fraser had died. One eyewitness, who did not want to be named, said that two youths were caught while the others fled.
The police pursued the youths and three were caught while Fraser ran to Third Street, the man said. He said that Fraser “was running” when he was shot. Fraser fell in a drain and was picked-up by the police and placed in the pick-up and rushed to the hospital.
Up to yesterday afternoon, the five youths were being held by police. At Fraser’s home, upset relatives gathered and were stunned upon learning that he was dead. They said the police had “no right” to shoot the youth. They said he was in Fourth Form at the Patentia Secondary School but had not gone to school that day. He had left home earlier to meet his girlfriend, relatives said.
His cousin, Narima Khan said Fraser normally visited her every Monday. “Me can’t live with this. I got to get justice for me cousin,” she cried. “My cousin is not no criminal,” she said.
Crying relatives asked why the youth was shot saying that the police could have fired in the air or even shot him in the foot. “He na thief. He na snatch nobody chain and run,” said one woman.
Relatives said that because the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) exams were being written, at times there were no classes and Fraser did not go to school when there were no classes.
Vice-Chairman of the Patentia East Community Policing Group Anthony Hazel told this newspaper that shortly before the shooting he had warned six males about “‘hanging out” at the bridge close to the school. “This is an everyday practice of the young men to prey on young girl children of this institution. I have repeatedly made representation for young men to remove from this bridge,” he said.
One of the young men now in custody is Kelson John, 19.
His mother said that she had sent him to the school to check on his younger brother. According to one woman, the police had gun-butted the youths when they were caught.
A teacher at the school said that they have often called on the Ministry of Education to provide full-time security but the request has not been answered. According to the teacher, every day, there are fights at the school with them helpless to do anything.
Fraser is survived by his mother, Sharon Fraser, his father and sister. Relatives said he was a quiet child who was cooperative.
