Latest update February 2nd, 2025 7:46 AM
Police apologise to family of slain mentally ill man
Police meet with the Alphonsos
Commander in charge of “G” Division, Kevin Adonis, on Friday visited and offered his sympathy and had a pastor pray with the parents of Leon Alphonso, a/k”Bholo”, two days after he was shot in his foot and subsequently died.
Adonis insisted that the police are here to build a relationship with members of the Community and not to sever it. The senior police officer further reassured the mentally challenged man’s family that officers from Georgetown were on the Coast to conduct additional investigations into the shooting of the deceased. The body of the dead man was handed over to the family late yesterday.
“Bholo” died from hemorrhage and shock due to contact gunshot wounds to his upper left leg. The mentally challenged man was shot Wednesday afternoon, at Hampton Court Village after the police had launched a search for him following an allegation leveled against him by a Danielstown businesswoman regarding damage to property and the assault of a pregnant woman.
Bibi.N.Singh’s front and back wind screens were destroyed by the man, who was a frequent visitor to her home. Her pregnant daughter, Narefia Singh, was physically assaulted by the man during the aftermath. Singh had lodged a report with the police.
Adonis told the family that a shotgun was used and that the mentally challenged man was shot twice with pellets. He further told the family that from the information he had received, he understand that “Bholo”, who was subsequently transferred to Georgetown for advanced medical care had died on the way.
The mentally challenged man’s mother, Yvonne Alphonso, told Adonis that she is still not pleased with the police for not informing and allowing her to see her son after he was shot. The woman, who was in tears, said that she acknowledged that her son was mentally challenged and that he behaved irrationally at times but she said that he was coming around.
“I wanted a chance to see him, to hold his hands, that’s most touching for me.”
Bholo’s father, Leon Bernard Alphonso Snr, informed Adonis that his family is undertaking their separate investigations regarding the spot where his son sustained the gunshot wounds and if their findings are contrary to what the police are claiming, his respect for the officers would diminish.
Mr. Alphonso said that he knew his son had a serious mental issue and apologized for all the wrongs that were done to persons.
“Bholo”, who was known to many Essequibians, walked bare footed in only a pair of underpants from his Danielstown home to Anna Regina to solicit daily food aid from business persons.
Some people were scared of him but only if one irritated the mentally challenged man, would he react.
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