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Teen caught in tree said he begged homeowner not to shoot
– cops now able to interview hospitalised victim
Police were finally able to interview 17-year-old Afzel Fazal of lot 17, track, ‘A’ Colidgen East Coast Demerara, who was shot in the upper left shoulder while picking coconuts in a business man’s yard, in Enterprise, East Coast Demerara, on February 6.
The teen was reportedly only recently transferred from the Intensive Care Unit. He was interviewed yesterday because he was in no condition to give a coherent statement before.
Fazal yesterday told Kaieteur News his version of events that led to him being shot.
“I was home that day so I pick up my bicycle and collect my friend…we come back by me and collect the donkey cart and went riding about in the area.”
While they were riding, Fazal said he noticed coconuts in a drain; without thinking anything of it, the two stopped and decided to take the coconuts.
Afzel Fazal
A relative lifts the injured lad
“When I look up I see more coconuts in the tree so I say I will go on the fence and pick some,” Fazal said.
Soon after climbing to the top of the tree, Fazal said he noticed a silver van driving towards where his friend was standing and thought that must be the home owner.
The man, who is a known auto dealer in the area, Fazal said, came out of the vehicle and, without asking questions, shot him. “By the time he come out the vehicle I tell he ‘uncle don’t shoot me’ cause I done see he put he hand to he waist; I beg he to not shoot. The man did not even ask any questions, he just shoot me.”
Justin Wilson, Fazal’s friend, who was standing close to business man when his friend was shot, said the man went over to his neighbour and within minutes came back and asked “Is where the boy get shoot?”
Fazal, who lost his mother about three years ago, and his friend Justin, are known to persons in the area since they would sell coconut water and ‘pointer brooms’ in the community.
Kaieteur News was told it took almost 15 minutes before Fazal was removed from the tree since no one came to help.
“I had to call he brother to come and take he down from the tree because Justin couldn’t do it alone,” a family member said.
The two both denied attacking the businessman, who told police that Fazal had attacked him with a cutlass.
Fazal said he was in the tree and it was impossible for him to attack the man. Justin Wilson said he was still standing close to the man when the police arrived on the scene.
Wilson and the businessman were both taken to the police station where they gave statements.
While Wilson was allowed to leave, the business man was kept in police custody, but released 72 hrs later.
Fazal said, though his condition is improving, he may not be able to use his left arm again. “The doctor is not really giving me an answer if I will be able to use the arm again or not,” he said. The lad suffered a broken shoulder and a damaged artery.
The family is hoping that something can be done now that officers were able to take a statement from Fazal.
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