The relatives of gold miner Sean Williams, who was shot on Friday evening by a police constable responding to a report of domestic violence, are calling for a thorough investigation into the matter.
Twenty-six-year-old Williams called ‘Sunny’ of Itaballi, Region Seven was shot in his back after he reportedly resisted being handcuffed by the rank. He was rushed to the Bartica Hospital before being transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital’s (GPH) Intensive Care Unit (ICU) the same evening. His condition was listed as serious but stable.
The policeman escaped but was later apprehended.
The Guyana Police Force in a press release had said that about 8 pm on Friday, a mother made a report at the Itaballi Check Point that her daughter was being assaulted by her reputed husband. As a result, the subordinate officer in charge sent a constable to the scene with the woman. The constable was armed with a service firearm.
The statement said that when the police constable arrived at the scene, he contacted the alleged assailant and an argument ensued between them. “Eyewitnesses claimed that the policeman struck the assailant on his head with the firearm and he fell, after which it is further alleged that the policeman discharged a round at the assailant, hitting him in the upper chest,” it further said.
It added that the constable was located around 6 am Saturday with the firearm still in his possession in the vicinity of the Tiperu Crossing and was arrested.
Speaking to Stabroek News yesterday, Williams’s father, Bransford Williams said he is determined to obtain justice for his son who he believes was “wrongfully” shot.
Bransford Williams who resides in New Amsterdam, Berbice explained that he received a call around 8.45 pm on Friday from his daughter, who resides in Itaballi. “She call me and was crying and I ask her what’s wrong and she tell me that Sunny just get shoot,” he said. However, before he could enquire further, he said, the call was disconnected due to the poor signal. It was not until the following morning that he received a second call. This time it was from Sean’s wife who related the same information to him.
As a result, the man said, he immediately travelled to Georgetown where he met his daughter and daughter-in-law at the GPH. There, he was further informed that Sean and his wife, Stacy (only name given) had an argument which escalated into a scuffle. She then contacted her sister and mother who visited the house. Realizing that the situation was getting out of control, he said, Stacy’s mother contacted the police, and the constable later arrived at the house.
According to Bransford Williams, based on what he was told, his son was willing to go with the constable to the police station, but he resisted being handcuffed. “I hear he tell the police that it got big robbery men and murder men out there that ain’t getting handcuff and he ain’t do nothing to be handcuff [and] they had a lil thing [row],” he said.
It was at this point, he was told, that officer took out his firearm and gun-butted Sean to his head. “My son fall to the ground and was unconscious and pun top of that he got the mind to stand up over him and shoot he to his back,” Bransford Williams said.
He is therefore calling on the relevant authorities, including Minster of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan to ensure a proper investigation is carried out into the matter.
Meanwhile, when approached by this newspaper, Stacy related, “We just had a lil argument and a lil scramble. And the police officer like he come to make peace and take we to the station to give statements and he end up shooting Sean.”
She also expressed her dissatisfaction with the manner in which the police have been dealing with the matter. “Right now we don’t know what’s going on with the matter police wise,” she said.
The police in the statement said that a separate probe is being undertaken by the Office of Professional Responsibility into the purported breaches of standard operating procedure in relation to the report.
