A Linden teen is in police custody after the boy he threw into the Demerara River on Tuesday disappeared underwater and has not been seen since.
Feared dead is Omar Mitchell, 14, of Half Mile Wismar, who left home on Tuesday afternoon for his friend’s home, according to his aunt, Cheryl Waithe. She said it was not until later when Mitchell’s mother Onika Mitchell, received a call from the Police Station to report there, that the family became aware of the incident.
Waithe said Omar, his friends and the 17-year-old who threw him into the river, had all gone to the river, in the vicinity of the Mackenzie River Bridge, to bathe and swim respectively. She said they were told that Omar informed the others that he would only take a bath in the river, since he could not swim. However, the eldest of the teens at the river threw him over board, in spite of Omar’s declaration.
Waithe said a friend of Omar informed the police that after he was thrown into the river,
he panicked to the amusement of the teen who threw him into the river. That amusement quickly faded when Omar kept sinking and finally disappeared before the 17-year-old could firmly grip his hand.
Relatives told Stabroek News that the 17-year-old ran home but told no one of what had occurred. It was the others, who were also unable to swim, who alerted residents.
Subsequently the 17-year-old was arrested, Omar’s family was informed of the incident and a search commenced. Residents and police searched futilely from Christiansburg to West Watooka along the river from approximately 6 pm to 11 pm on Tuesday.
Relatives said they feared Omar was dead, since the area where he sank had no bush that he could have held on to. “The mother keeps saying that she wants to see her son,” said Waithe.
Yesterday other relatives joined the search with their boats but up to press time there was no sign of Omar.
Omar, the second of five children, was described as a quiet and loving child who avoided trouble. The search will continue until he is found said Waithe.
