Relatives and friends of Peter Headley, the robbery accused who was killed by a police officer last weekend, held a protest outside of the Ministry of Home Affairs Brickdam on Friday over the apparent “inaction” in the investigation.
In a press release, the Ministry said that Minister of Home Affairs Robeson Benn met with the protestors and assured them that the investigation is ongoing.
“The Minister assured close relatives and friends of Mr. Headley that the matter was under investigation by the Guyana Police Force and that the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) was involved in the investigation and that the Police Complaints Authority was notified,” the release said.
Two of Headley’s relatives later accompanied Benn to his office, where he contacted Commissioner of Police (ag) Nigel Hoppie, who reiterated the assurances.
“Both the Minister and the Commis-sioner noted the grave concerns of the relatives and friends with respect to the effect and fears relating to police misconduct,” the release said.
Headley, 45, of Dowding Street, Kitty was shot and killed while he was being transported to the Providence Station.
An autopsy conducted on Monday showed that he died as a result of perforation of the lung due to a gunshot injury.
At the time, Headley was seated in the front passenger seat of a civilian car, which was being driven by a policeman. A rank was sitting in the back passenger seat.
The police had said that preliminary investigations revealed that the lawmen were acting on a tip-off about an armed robbery that was committed at Herstelling, East Bank Demerara (EBD) on May 11, 2021.
The vehicle with Headley and another passenger, who was also being treated as a suspect, was intercepted at approximately 8.45 PM at Nandy Park, EBD.
During a search of the vehicle, a television set that is suspected to have been stolen during the May 11 armed robbery was found, prompting police to arrest Headley and the other passenger.
Headley was placed in the front passenger seat of the civilian vehicle, which was being driven by a police rank, with an armed police rank in the back seat, while the other suspect was placed in the police vehicle with the other ranks, police said.
On their way to the station, the police said that Headley reached under the seat of the vehicle and pulled out what appeared to be a firearm, causing the armed rank to discharge a round which struck him in his body.
Headley, a father of two, was taken to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, where he succumbed while receiving medical treatment.
Hoppie has since ordered that the investigation into the shooting be “swiftly” concluded and the results made public.
Two police officers, including the alleged shooter, were initially placed under close arrest. They are now under open arrest as the probe continues.
Not adding up
In a telephone interview with Stabroek News yesterday, Sydney Cyril, a cousin of Headley, related that the family does not believe the police force’s version of what transpired.
“What the police saying ain’t mek no sense. Any sensible thinking person would know that the story ain’t mek no sense,” he said.
Since the shooting, Cyril said the family has been hearing conflicting reports of what transpired.
“One time they saying he [Headley] bend down to pick up some gun, next thing he throw the gun through the window then they saying the police at the back was an armed police and he shoot he because he bend down. Now I hearing is a rifle he [the police rank] had. A rifle is a long gun. So how can you shoot somebody that sitting down in front of you, that did sitting down too in a vehicle with a rifle?” Cyril questioned.
He said there are also various aspects of the police account of the incident which do not add up.
“…Here is the part I can’t understand. They tek out the next fella, put he in another vehicle…..They leave him (Headley) alone….They ain’t even handcuff he. But how this thing look is like they shoot he before and put he in the car. They supposed to handcuff him. They say he is a suspect, they supposed to handcuff him,” Cyril said.
“…Then it got another story that a patrol find a gun on the roadway the next day… the police seh he throw it through the window,” he added.
According to Cyril, Headley had more than $2 million cash in his possession at the time of the shooting. He said the police cannot account for the money.
Cyril explained to Stabroek News that Headley worked with a relative who sells drums. Hours before the shooting, he said Headley telephoned the relative and informed him that he collected the money.
Headley was on his way to drop off the money to the relative when he was intercepted, Cyril said.
“He went home…He called his son, he tell his son bring out some money. He son bring out the money, reversing coming out. When he coming out, the police stop he,” Cyril related.
He further added that the television, which the police are claiming was stolen belongs to Headley. “…Like he bought the television from the guy that was with him,” Cyril said.
Cyril said the family believes that Headley was killed for the money he had in his possession. “…That is murder. They kill that boy. That boy is not no thief. That is me cousin. I know he all my life and I never know he as a thief. This thing is murder. What the police saying doesn’t make sense. These police need to stop with this thing because they taking innocent lives. Greed is a terrible thing. I pray to god let justice prevail and this thing get solve. Let whatever transpire come to light because everybody grieving,” Cyril stated.
