Haslington fatal shooting: “The Police will have no interference” – Top Cop promises impartial investigation

…father of 1 was shot multiple times – autopsy

Top Cop Clifton Hicken on Monday during a meeting with the family of Quindon Bacchus, who was gunned down at Haslington, East Coast Demerara (ECD), assured them that there will be an impartial investigation into the matter by the Police Complaints Authority (PCA).

During the meeting, scores of protesters were gathered in front of the home of the dead man’s family calling for justice. Hicken, however, assured the relatives and friends of the now dead man that there will be no interference as it relates to the investigations.
“I have spoken to the family and I told them that there will be an impartial investigation, the Police Complaints Authority will be investigating this matter, that’s the body constituted to deal with the matter of this nature, the Police will have no interference, I told the family that and I’m telling you this,” Commissioner Hicken explained to the protesters.
The officer who pulled the trigger that resulted in the death of Bacchus, of Golden Grove, ECD, was placed under close arrest as the investigations continue.
He had also disclosed that the file will be forwarded to the PCA on Monday to launch an investigation into the matter.
The 23-year-old father of one was reportedly shot at least six times about his body following an encounter with plainclothes ranks. This was confirmed by a post-mortem performed by Dr Nehaul Singh on Monday who gave the cause of death as multiple gunshot wounds.

It was reported that on Friday last, ranks were conducting an intelligence-led operation in the Haslington New Scheme area of the 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 rank, who was armed, made arrangements to purchase the firearm from Bacchus, who left and returned with the firearm. In the process of conducting the deal, an alarm was raised and 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 in close proximity Bacchus allegedly discharged several other rounds towards the rank, and the rank took cover and returned fire, hitting the now deceased man about his body.
He 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.
Meanwhile, 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.
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 operating 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. Meanwhile, following the autopsy on Monday, Bacchus’ body was handed over to his relatives for funeral arrangements.