Two die after police open fire during drug addict’s rampage

Footage of the altercation between the police and the mentally ill man
Footage of the altercation between the police and the mentally ill man

-another severely injured

A drug addict went on a bloody rampage with a knife in several parts of Mahaicony and he died along with another man he attacked after the police opened fire.

The police yesterday said that an investigation has been launched into the fatal shooting of Roger Erwin Pierre, also known as ‘Pants’, a labourer of Lot 11 Airy Hall, Middle Walk, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara. The deceased, reported to be a drug addict and of unsound mind, was involved in a series of violent events. Pierre also inflicted serious wounds on Frederick Williams who also appeared to have been shot by the police and died later.

The police said in a statement that investigations revealed that at approximately 9:30am, Pierre stabbed 63-year-old Laldat Tooknauth, a resident of Huntley, Mahaicony. Following the assault, Pierre fled the scene while Tooknauth was transported to Mahaicony Hospital and subsequently transferred in critical condition to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH).

Then at around 10:30am, officers from the Mahaicony Police Station received information that Pierre was at Novar School Dam, armed with a knife and causing panic in the area. A team was dispatched to the location and upon arrival, they spotted Pierre on Dundee Public Road, brandishing the knife. When the officers attempted to disarm and apprehend him, he resisted aggressively.

During the confrontation with police, Pierre was shot in the left foot. Despite his visible injury and police orders to drop the knife, he continued to walk down the public road. As he approached the neighbouring village of Airy Hall, bystanders attempted to persuade him to surrender. However, Pierre’s aggression escalated and he threw glass bottles and sand at both officers and nearby residents. He then concealed the knife in his waistband, retrieved a steel rod from a nearby construction site, and attacked a 69-year-old resident, Lambert Nunes, inflicting a wound to his left hand. Continuing north along a cross street, Pierre was pursued by police and residents attempting to restrain him.

Williams, also known as Terrence, a 68-year-old resident of Airy Hall, successfully tackled Pierre to the ground amidst the ongoing chaos. During the struggle, Pierre managed to seize the knife from Williams and attacked him, repeatedly stabbing him in the head and other parts of his body.

In response to the situation, two police officers fired multiple shots at Pierre, ultimately rendering him motionless. Both Williams and Pierre were subsequently taken to the Mahaicony Hospital, where Williams succumbed to his injuries during treatment, while Pierre was pronounced dead on arrival.

An examination of the bodies revealed that both displayed gunshot wounds, with Williams sustaining multiple stab injuries to his head and body. Both bodies are currently at Bailey-Michael Funeral Parlour, in Mahaicony.

Investigators collected statements from witnesses and canvassed the area for CCTV footage.

A video circulating on social media shows Pierre throwing sand at officers before turning away. The footage shows officers shooting at him several times.

The Guyana Police Force has confirmed that the incident is under investigation by its Office of Professional Responsibility.