Haslington fatal shooting: Cop under close arrest as Police Complaints Authority launches probe

The officer who pulled the trigger resulting in the death of 23-year-old Quindon Bacchus has been placed under close arrest as the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) launches a probe into the shooting incident that occurred at Haslington, East Coast Demerara (ECD), on Friday.

“The file will be sent to the Chairman of the Police Complaints Authority (today) to do a thorough investigation of the incident,” Head of the Guyana Police Force’s Communications Unit Mark Ramotar told the media on Sunday.
Bacchus, a father of one of Golden Grove, ECD, was allegedly shot six times about his body following an encounter with Police ranks.
It was reported that on the day in question, ranks were conducting an intelligence-led operation in the Haslington New Scheme area of ECD after receiving some information earlier in the day. While there, the ranks said, they contacted a 22-year-old construction worker, who provided them with certain information. As a result of the information, the ranks went to Bacchus’ home, where he was seen with a firearm in his possession. He had reportedly intended to sell it to one of the ranks.
The plainclothes rank, who was armed, made arrangements to purchase the firearm from Bacchus, who left and returned with the firearm.
In the process of handing over the firearm to the rank, an alarm was raised. As a result, Bacchus ran in a southern direction and discharged a round in the rank’s direction, and the rank drew his service pistol and returned fire.
Police said Bacchus then ran further south and jumped into a yard, and the rank gave chase.
While the rank was in close proximity to Bacchus, the man allegedly discharged several other rounds towards the rank, and the rank took cover and returned fire, hitting the now-deceased man about his body.
Bacchus reportedly fell to the ground, along with the firearm, which was later identified as a .380 pistol with a magazine that still had one round.
Police said Bacchus was picked up in a conscious state and escorted to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he was seen and examined, but subsequently died.
Linessa Semple, a cousin of the now dead man, had told this publication that Bacchus was murdered by his friend [the cop], and she refuted all claims that her cousin had discharged multiple shots at the Police.
CCTV footage of the incident seen by this publication shows that at the time of the incident, schoolchildren were walking on the road and had to run away when the gunshots were being fired.
Attorney Darren Wade has since met with the family and issued a statement calling on the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to conduct an impartial probe.

Wanted bulletin
Wade said the Police must state whether or not a wanted bullet was issued for Bacchus’ arrest and whether any shells or warheads were recovered from the crime scene as well as the location from which they were retrieved.
“What intelligence/information was in the police’ possession in relation to the victim [and] what standard operation procedure was used before, during and after the shooting,” Wade further questioned.
The Attorney believes the Police must also state what was the trajectory of the bullet and the point of exit and entry of the bullet.
Earlier in the day, before he was shot dead, Bacchus has just seen his three-year-old son who had travelled from Barbados. The father had not seen the child in years.
Meanwhile, family members of the now dead man continue to demand justice, contending that whatever Bacchus’ alleged crime was, he did not deserve such a horrific death.
“My cousin didn’t die at the hospital; he died right there in the scheme… His chest burst up. All we want is justice. He did nothing to deserve that,” the victim’s cousin noted.