Latest update December 24th, 2024 12:15 AM
Cop kills machete attacker
Marlon Shepherd
A well-known criminal offender in Berbice was yesterday shot dead when he reportedly attacked a police officer with a knife and machete yesterday.
Marlon shepherd, 29 of 49 Smythfield, New Amsterdam, was shot in his chest when he attacked the officer who was trying to apprehend him shortly after midnight Saturday.
Police in a statement yesterday said that an Assistant Superintendent of Police who acted on a reported robbery at Matthew Allen and Strand Road, New Amsterdam, pursued the suspect who was riding a bicycle, after he was pointed out by the victim.
When the police officer caught up with the assailant at Republic Road and Cheddi Jagan Street, New Amsterdam, he made all efforts to arrest Shepherd but was confronted with his threatening behaviour. The police officer claimed that in spite of his appeals for the suspect to desist, Shepherd continued to advance towards him with a machete and a knife, and he was subsequently forced to discharge a live round to his chest.
Kaieteur News was informed that the mother of the deceased, Joanna Shepherd, was contacted by the police around 06: 30 hours yesterday to go to the hospital to identify her son’s body. The dead man’s relatives are not too pleased with the way he met his death.
They claimed that Shepherd was “killed out of ignorance by a senior officer.”
Family members explained that Shepherd called “Critters” was employed at Rainbow Bar, Republic and Charles Place, New Amsterdam.
They told this newspaper that on Saturday night, he left his workplace intoxicated and was heading home on his bicycle when he was confronted by the police officer.
Although he had several minor brushes with the law involving two jail terms for possession of illegal drugs, relatives stressed that “he does not thief.” A cousin of the deceased said, “he like smoke he lil weed but he don’t interfere with anyone.”
Relatives are demanding a thorough investigation into the killing, since they claimed that efforts to get a report from officials at the Central Police Station in New Amsterdam proved futile.
Kaieteur News understands that Shepherd was before the courts on a charge of robbery under arms. This resulted from investigations into a report where on February 12, 2013, while armed with a cutlass, he attacked Daryl Edwards, 18, of Tucber Park, New Amsterdam, and took away his cell phone and jewellery.
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