A Mahdia, Region Eight driver died yesterday after being accidentally shot by a police sergeant.
Police in the region have launched an investigation after 36-year-old Cleavon Gomes, a driver of 111 Miles Mahdia, received a gunshot wound on Thursday evening to his left shoulder, which subsequently caused his death.
The shooting occurred around 8:30 pm in the vicinity of the Number 72 Bus Park.
According to the police force, initial investigations revealed that Gomes had an altercation with a 25-year-old miner at the bus park prior to being shot. It was noted that during the altercation the miner armed himself and was brandishing a cutlass at Gomes.
In a press release, the force said that the sergeant, who was armed with a service pistol repeatedly warned the miner to desist, however, he continued. The release added that the sergeant then discharged a round in the miner’s direction but Gomes was struck instead.
Following the shooting, Gomes was taken to the Mahdia Public Hospital where he succumbed to the injury while receiving medical attention at around 1: 24 am yesterday.
The miner was detained by the police while the sergeant has been placed under close arrest.
Gomes’ body was transferred to Georgetown where an autopsy is expected to be done.
