A suspected bandit was shot and killed during the wee hours of yesterday morning by the police, who were responding to reports of several armed robberies. The fatal shooting triggered an hours-long protest by angry residents and relatives of the dead man.
Dead is Orin Odingo Williams called ‘Pregga’, 34, a father of two of Leopold and Breda streets, Werk-en-Rust, George-town. He was reportedly shot twice: in his groin and abdomen, and was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Police spokesman (ag) Shivpersaud Bacchus last evening confirmed the shooting of Williams which occurred at around 1:45am at Norton Street, Wortmanville, George-town.
Investigations, the police said in a statement, revealed that Williams was among three men who allegedly robbed four persons at gunpoint at the corner of Hadfield and High streets, Georgetown. The victims were relieved of their cell phones, an undisclosed amount of cash and personal documents.
“The victims promptly reported the matter to the police, who responded and proceeded in the direction in which the suspects allegedly fled,” the statement said.
While in the vicinity of Norton and Bishop streets, the police said, one of the suspects (Williams) dismounted his bicycle and allegedly discharged two rounds at the ranks, who returned fire with their service weapons.
Williams was wounded while his two accomplices managed to escape.
The police recovered a .38 revolver, one live round, two spent shells, a quantity of cannabis, three cell phones, a yellow metal chain, $10,900 and one backpack at the scene.
Bacchus said that Williams was identified by the victims as one of the robbers.
“Two of the cellular phones recovered have since been identified by two of the victims as those belonging to them,” the police added.
However, the dead man’s relatives refuted the police’s account of what transpired. They said that Williams had just left Leopold Street for his girlfriend’s place in Princes Street, when the police chased after him and shot him.
“When he (Williams) ride off, like five minutes after he ride off, patrol [passed] pun a motorbike pass and guh behind he; then we heard three gunshot. Well, we suspect something happen to he but we didn’t know. Is till this morning about 6:30 we heard wah happen,” a cousin of the dead man, who wished not to be named, told Stabroek News.
“People seh they hear the shooting. They seh is some Rasta man from Leopold get shoot. But he is not a Rasta, he had he hair screw. Is when we go the hospital, we find out is he,” the man added.
He noted that Williams returned to Guyana from Cayenne, French Guiana about three months ago after about 13 years in that country. He said Williams was incarcerated over there but could not recall for what offence.
Protest
Residents and some of Williams’ relatives yesterday morning took to the streets, namely between Leopold and Breda and D’Urban and Breda streets, in their quest for justice.
They said that Williams did not commit any crime and was wrongfully killed by the police.
With their faces concealed and with various items in their hands, the resident burnt tyres and other debris and even blocked the streets with barrels as they vented their concerns.
Gunshots were also fired in the air.
The police said that the Guyana Fire Service responded to the scene and while attempting to extinguish the fires, they met with resistance from the protestors, who threw missiles at the vehicle causing damage to the front windshield and the left passenger window.
“We want justice fah he. All he jewellery they tek off, carry way he money out he pocket,” Williams’ cousin alleged.
He said that residents in the community are oftentimes subject to “police harassment.”
“This district gifted to hustling. The police, Brickdam, everybody know wah does go on in this neighbourhood hay suh,” the man said.
Meanwhile, one of Williams’ sisters, who also wished not to be named, said that if justice is not served in a timely manner, the family will take the matter into their own hands.
“I don’t know yet why they kill he…he was alive and because he seh he calling Nigel (Hughes), they drove he away. Weh side the church on Princes Street deh, right there it happen and they (shoot) he in a back lot, behind a girl he deh with house. He was going home to he wife…We need justice. If they ain’t give we justice fah meh brother death, we solving it we self,” the woman said.
Another relative is calling on the police officers involved in the shooting to step forward.
“We need justice and we need the police officers who was on duty last night, wah go behind he and kill him. We want they step forward because if we gah point them out, it nah guh be nice,” the woman said.
The “unrest” lasted for several hours and was quelled after Commander of ‘A’ Division, Marlon Chapman, in the presence of attorney Nigel Hughes, visited the area.
During an interaction, Chapman assured the residents that a thorough investigation will be conducted into the matter.
As a result, residents agreed to extinguish the fires and remove the debris from the roadway.
Hughes told Stabroek News that he decided to visit the area and offer his assistance yesterday after he noticed a large crowd and the commotion.
He said that he also arranged for Williams’ fiancée to view his remains at the mortuary.
“I was able to take the fiancée of the deceased guy (Williams) to see his body because the police were refusing to do that and then I arranged to get the fire put out. The Commander (Chapman) spoke to the community and they are going to give their statement. So we got the community to remove all the debris from the streets, put the fires out and remove all the debris,” Hughes said.
He added that while he does not know Williams personally, he learnt that prior to his death, Williams made mention of contacting him.
“I got a report that people said that the guy (Williams) told them that he wanted to, he was going to call me or tell me or something like that, that they were trying to harass him or something like that,” he noted.
The attorney said that he is going to ensure that the matter is investigated thoroughly. “The information is that the man (Williams) was restrained when he was shot. I am going to assist to make sure that they get some sort of just result,” he said.
He noted that there are several eyewitnesses to the shooting and the police are in the process of obtaining statements.
