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Shootout at Charlestown…Police blame ‘murder accused’, residents blame police
About 13:30 hours yesterday, families housed in a three-storey building at 33 Lyng and Howes Streets, Charlestown, were sent into a frenzy after a shootout occurred between several police ranks and a criminal suspect whom they were seeking to apprehend.
This publication was informed that the suspect, who was not identified, is currently charged with attempted murder.
According to reports, the police were at the time acting on information that suggested that the accused was seeking refuge in the Charlestown building.
Police ranks taking suspects away from the scene.
However, upon arriving at the scene and after disclosing the purpose of their visit, several shots were fired sending them running for cover. Police suspect that the shots came from the accused who was hiding out in the building.
At this point, the ranks who had not yet entered the building, questioned whether it was feasible to return fire since there were several children in the building.
During this time, the alleged shooter made good his escape.
Meanwhile, the occupants of the building had a different story to tell. According to Hazel Smith, the property owner, it was the police who barged in, fired off several shots and terrified all present.
Other occupants of the building protested that it was thoughtless and unjust for the police to violate their rights and induce fear in both adults and several children who were present at the time of the incident.
Eight-year-old Ashlyn Peters told Kaieteur News how terrified she was during the encounter.
“I been watching cartoon upstairs and then the police come upstairs, about three. They were searching the place. And then shot a bullet upstairs on the roof.”
The child said that during this time, she and other siblings were forced to hide under the bed.
The property owner, relating her side of the story, said that the police claimed that they were in pursuit of some “murder men”, but she denied having knowledge or harbouring any such person in her home.
“They hear some murder men deh hiding here. And they ain’t got no murder men, is two li’l boys,” Smith lamented.
According to her, two young boys “Henry and Blackie”, both about 17 years old who lived several houses away, were playing cards on the bottom flat of the building when the police, without warning, forced their way in.
She said that when the boys saw the police, they became afraid and bolted upstairs resulting in the ranks chasing after them.
It was during the chase that the ranks allegedly fired about three shots. The boys, along with two other men, Gregory Richardson and Odell Fordyce, were then taken into police custody.
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