-mother says wounded son left for four hours
A corporal attached to the Mahaicony Police Station and a 20-year-old fisherman were fatally wounded during the wee hours of Sunday by ranks who were responding to a report of a stabbing. .
Dead are Detective Corporal 20922 Dwayne McPherson, 31 of Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara and Kishan Budburgh of Grove Huntley, Mahaicony.
In a brief statement, Director of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) Corporate Communications Unit, Mark Ramotar said a “comprehensive” investigation is ongoing into the circumstances surrounding the fatal shooting which occurred around 00:30hrs New Year’s morning.
He said two Constables were placed under close arrest and the force intends to provide “regular” updates as the investigation progresses. But since the initial release, there has been no update from the police on the incident.
While details surrounding the shooting remain sketchy up to press time, Stabroek News was reliably informed that McPherson and two other ranks attached to the Mahaicony Police Station were responding to a report of a stabbing involving Budburgh, his brothers and another male.
In their bid to arrest Budburgh, a scuffle reportedly ensued during which Budburgh was shot at least three time. McPherson was initially shot followed by Budburgh.
In an interview with Stabroek News last night, Budburgh’s mother, Beverly Dundas said she is determined to secure justice. She said the manner in which her son was shot is unacceptable. “I really hurt. Me feel really hurt. I want something come out me son story cause me son can’t go down suh,”she said.
Dundas explained that she and her husband left home for church on Saturday night. Up to that time, she said Budburgh had not returned home from work.
She said before she could have returned home, she received a call from Budburgh’s father, who she has been separated from and he told her that two of her five sons had been arrested by the police.
Dundas said at that time she was not sure what had transpired but she later learnt that Budburgh and his brothers were at a shop located a street away from their home when he and another male were involved in a fight.
During the fight, Dundas said she learnt that the male allegedly lashed Budburgh to the back of his head and in retaliation, Budburgh stabbed him. “Like he buss the bottle and me ain’t know if he been ah go stab me son (Budburgh) or wah he been ah go do but anyway me son get a cut on he hand. Like he see blood and he had a knife, so he stab the bai,” Dundas told Stabroek News.
She said one of Budburgh’s brothers who was present intervened and parted the fight after which they left for home.
Whist walking home, Dundas said she understands that two of her sons were picked up by the police. And upon noticing this, she said she was told that Budburgh took a different route and ran home and went to bed.
According to Dundas, her two other sons who were home with Budburgh told her that police subsequently showed up at their house. “….He (Budburgh) come in and he gone and lay down like fah go sleep. Then the police come back fah arrest he. Them knocking on the door and when my next son open the door, the police just run inside and start hit meh son (Kishan) with the gun. Box he up and so.
How the sleep get he, he seh he want rest, he want sleep and them just drag he out,” Dundas said.
She said Budburgh resisted the police. “He (Budburgh) seh if yall come fah arrest me why you doing me like this then and they start haul he out, brace he on the wall……Then meh other son seh officer if yall come fah arrest we, arrest we and carry we in a peaceful way,” Dundas added.
“The police nah want hear dah suh meh son (Kishan) nah start fight back with the policeman (McPherson),” she said.
During this, one of the other ranks who was present allegedly discharged several rounds. Dundas said based on what she was told McPherson was struck first and Budburgh tried to escape. “After them (police) shoot the policeman (McPherson) fuss, he nah fall. So when meh son (Kishan) try fah get up now them shot he tuh,” Dundas related.
Delay
Dundas further told Stabroek News that following the shooting, the ranks picked up McPherson and took him to the hospital and left the injured Budburgh behind.
She said she and her husband made several attempts to get transportation to take Budburgh to the hospital but persons were skeptical to render assistance. “We trying to call taxi, you ain’t getting no contact with taxi,” she said.
Dundas related that her husband took her on the bicycle to the Mahaicony Police Station where they pleaded for help but were reportedly chased out. “When we go in I say ‘officer my son on the ground lying in blood.’ He (officer) seh ‘I don’t want to hear nothing’. They push we out the gate and they lock the gate and tell we let we come out from there,” she said.
Clueless what to do next, she said she stopped a car that was passing on the road but the driver told her he doesn’t work taxi and was heading home. “He (driver) said if we want he can drop we to the hospital to see if we can get an ambulance,” she recalled.
Dundas said she accepted the offer and upon arrival at the Mahaicony Hospital she was told there was no ambulance available. “I seh I want help and I come fah see to get an ambulance. Them seh them ain’t got no ambulance. So we get turn down deh again,” she said.
She added that her husband told the security guard at the hospital what had happened and he offered to arrange a taxi for them.
But she said whilst waiting on the taxi, she approached a police officer who was present at the hospital. “Meh seh officer my son is critical at my home. Suh meh seh I want know if I could take a taxi and bring him to the hospital if it will be any problem and he seh we could do that,” Dundas further related.
After the conversation, she said the officer took out his phone and called his colleagues at the Mahaicony Police Station.
According to Dundas, by the time the taxi arrived and she reached home for her son, the police were already there. “Whilst them passing, we coming in the car behind. Them drive speed speed and reach in before we,” she said.
Upon their arrival at the house, Dundas said the police asked her to direct them to where Budburgh was lying. She said she rushed to check on her son and by that time he had already died. “When me gone now and me talk to my son…No response. So meh seh meh son dead,” the grieving woman said.
Dundas told Stabroek News the police took about four hours before they removed Kishan from the scene.
And before they did, she said they had her and her husband taken to the police station. “Them ain’t really want me see how they removing my son. So them send me and my husband and send we to the station in another police vehicle and then them pick up me son. When he die then them hustle fah move him,” Dundas said.
Comprehensive
Hours after the shooting, Commissioner of Police (ag) Clifton Hicken visited the families of McPherson and Dundas.
In a press release issued on Sunday, the GPF said Hicken along with senior officers from Region Five visited Dundas to express his condolences.
Hicken also assured her that a comprehensive investigation is currently underway.
“I am transparent and I want to be transparent with you, and whatever happens will be revealed at a later stage, and whichever direction the DPP (Director of Public Prosecutions) advises, so shall it be,” the release quoted Hicken telling Dundas.
During the visit, Hicken was accompanied by Police Commander of Region Five, Kurleigh Simon, Head of the Office of Professional Responsibility, Elston Baird and several other ranks.
Meanwhile, in a separate release the force said the Hicken also assured McPherson’s family that a comprehensive probe is ongoing into the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
During the visit, the release said the family was informed that the force will take care of McPherson’s funeral expense and provide counselling support to the family,
“Also, Commissioner Hicken assured Corporal McPherson’s wife that additional support will be given to the family by the Force’s Community Relations Department, including the educational needs for their 4-year-old child,” the release added.
Dwayne McPherson
Kishan Budburgh
Acting Commissioner of Police, Clifton Hicken on Sunday met with Kishan Budburgh’s mother (seated) and assured her that a comprehensive investigation is ongoing into the incident which claimed the life of her son. (Police photo)
Acting Commissioner of Police, Clifton Hicken and other senior members of the force also visited Dwayne McPherson’s family to extend condolences. He also assured them that a comprehensive probe is ongoing to determine the circumstances surrounding the shooting. (Police photo)
