Commander of ‘D’ Division Superintendent Kevin Adonis yesterday met the parents of Danielstown Essequibo Coast resident Leon Alphonso, who was fatally shot by the police during an attempt to arrest him on Wednesday, to explain the circumstances surrounding the man’s death.
Alphonso, 39, died while being transferred from the Suddie Hospital to the Georgetown Public Hospital.
According to a police statement, yesterday morning the Commander, along with Pastor David Christiani of the Cops and Faith Community Network and other ranks visited Bernard and Yvonne Alphonso at home. They were informed of the circumstances surrounding the demise of their son and were also offered words of comfort.
The police had said in a statement on Wednesday that during investigations into a report of damage to property involving the windscreen of a motor vehicle, at about 3.15pm, police went to Danielstown to arrest Alphonso, who was the alleged perpetrator. During attempts to arrest him, the statement said, the suspect attacked police with a cutlass and a claw bar causing them to resort to the use of force; shooting Alphonso to his left foot.
A subsequent press statement said the man was pronounced dead on arrival at the Leonora Cottage Hospital, West Coast Demerara. He was being taken to the Georgetown Public Hopsital for surgery.
The dead man’s family had told Stabroek News that they were displeased about how the incident was handled. “I realise that he was doing some wrong things, and certain times he would get very angry and then attack people if they trouble him but the police was not truthful to us. I came home after 2pm on Wednesday and I heard the siren and so wanted to know what happen. Then somebody came and say that Leon got shot in Hampton Court. The police came and told my husband that my son got shot in his foot because that was the only way they could conquer him,” Alphonso’s mother said. “How can you shoot somebody below their knee and they die? The police lied to us and I am very displeased,” she said.
