The police are investigating Wednesday night’s shooting incident in Sophia, where a mother of nine collapsed and died shortly after police ranks fired several shots in an open area where residents were present.
Valerie Gordon, also known as “Mammi,” 42, is suspected to have suffered either a stroke or a heart attack after police fired shots a short distance from her at her Lot 90 Pocket Street and ‘C’ Field Main Road home.
Her family had stated that the woman was attending to a customer at the shop at her house when she heard shots firing shortly after a vehicle with police had passed. Knowing that her son was outside, she panicked and ran to the front to ascertain what had happened, when she collapsed in the arms of a friend.
“The police are currently investigating allegations, after a newspaper article, that their discharging rounds is linked to this woman’s death, as stated in the newspapers. However if it is found that the woman died of natural causes, there is no requirement for a criminal investigation… However, departmentally, there is a procedure for police who discharge rounds. But at this point, all I can say is that there is an ongoing investigation,” Crime Chief Seelall Persaud yesterday told Stabroek News when questioned about the incident.
Gordon’s family members accused police of ignoring their appeals for them to transport her to the hospital, saying that they instead mocked them and drove away. They said that the police had told them it was not their job to transport anyone and that they should “sap her with methylated spirits” as ranks possibly believed that she had only fainted.
When Stabroek News revisited the area yesterday, residents were still angry while others were in a state of shock at Gordon’s death and worried over the welfare of her nine children. They said the children were “her everything” and the primary reason she worked so hard. “What is going to happen to these children now? She used to work hard for them, you hear? Many days and nights, working hard, leaving her job as a police constable for something more profitable just to give them a good life,” her sister-in law Debbie Henry said.
It was noted that the community also lost a matriarch, who despite her small income ran a feeding programme to assist school children who could not afford lunch.
The shooting came a day after Werk-en Rust residents also accused police of indiscriminate shooting in their area. In that instance, police had opened fire on two young men who had escaped into a yard filled with children at Leopold Street. No one was injured but residents were angry and criticised the actions of the policemen, who were in the area as part of efforts by the force to beef up its presence in the city amidst an increase in armed robberies.
Investigations are also ongoing into that incident.
Gordon’s autopsy will be performed sometime this morning.
