Shawn Nelson, the sanitary technician who was shot to his head early Sunday morning, succumbed to his injuries yesterday in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Georgetown Public Hospital, while his shooter remains in police custody and will now likely be arraigned on a murder charge.
Crime Chief Seelall Persaud confirmed to Stabroek News yesterday that Nelson, 39, of D’Urban Street, Lodge died in the hospital yesterday morning. He also confirmed that Nelson’s assailant, who was taken to the police by relatives, remained in police custody assisting with the investigation.
On Sunday doctors had told Nelson’s relatives that he had a very slim chance of surviving. Alan Robinson, the man’s brother, had said that he was told that the bullet which pierced Nelson’s head had fragmented after impact. Pieces of the bullet were scattered to various regions of the man’s head, which caused it to immense swelling. Nelson succumbed around 8.25am yesterday.
The Crime Chief shared that investigators were in receipt of surveillance footage, which is being used to build the case, but they are also seeking out eyewitnesses to help their investigation along.
Stabroek News was able to view footage of the shooting, which clears up a lot of the uncertainty that surrounded the events, while also showing that in the minutes before anyone tried to render aid to the wounded man, some persons took photos and videos of him and one man even rummaged through his pockets.
Initial reports suggested that the shooting might have been an accident.
Robinson had said that patrons of Sweet Point, in the vicinity of where the shooting occurred, informed him that a white car pulled up near Nelson as he was walking along the road. He was told that when Nelson saw his friend come out of the car, he called out to him. “They say he hail the man up and ask he fuh a raise and de man seh ‘A raise? I only gah dis,’” he recounted.
It was stated that at this point Nelson’s assailant pulled out a gun and discharged a round, which struck him in his head. The shooter then reportedly re-entered a white Toyota and drove away.
Police, however, later issued a statement saying that the two men might have been embroiled in an argument, which ended in Nelson being shot.
Left to bleed out
Footage seen by Stabroek News revealed that Nelson’s shooter was not in his car as Nelson was passing. In the video, Nelson is seen moving north along Orange Walk while his assailant is seen approaching from the north. The white car, which was described by eyewitnesses, was parked on the western side of Orange Walk, in the vicinity of Sweet Point.
In the video, as Nelson passes the white car on the passenger side, his assailant then approached the driver side of the car. As the two men, who were then on opposite sides of the car, got closer, Nelson’s assailant pulled out and “cocked” his hand gun before discharging a round in his direction.
Nelson, who fell to the ground after sustaining the gunshot, was left to bleed out by his assailant, who drove off subsequent to the shooting.
Passersby and patrons of Sweet Point were seen congregating around Nelson’s body after his shooter fled the scene. It was several minutes before anyone attempted to help him and several persons were seen taking photographs and videos of the injured man with their phones.
One such person was even seen adjusting the injured man’s head to get a better shot of his face.
Another man was seen rummaging through Nelson’s pockets as the man lay injured and helpless on the road for several minutes.
Another business owner, who operates an establishment in the area, said she was preparing to start the day when she heard a noise. The woman said that she later realised the noise was a gunshot, and noticed that a man was lying on the road. The woman said several persons who converged on the scene of the shooting proceeded to take photos and videos as opposed to trying to help him.
Persaud yesterday said that from all indications Nelson’s assailant seemed to be the only occupant of the car at the time of the shooting. He added that police were yet to establish the motive behind the shooting. He said that from what has been gathered so far, the suspect just drove up, shot the man and then drove off.
The man was later taken into custody after he, accompanied by relatives, turned himself in.
In his bid to escape the man ploughed into a utility pole in the vicinity of “Last Entrance,” North Ruimveldt.
Stabroek News queried if the police will be seeking legal advice in this matter and was told by Persaud that this depends on a number of issues. He explained that if there are technical issues, advice will be sought. He said, however, that if there is sufficient evidence and the 72-hour maximum holding period without charge has expired, they will charge Nelson’s shooter then send the file to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
