Lindener shot by police seeks financial help to take pellet out of eye

May 04, 2025 News

Kaieteur News- A Linden family is pleading for urgent financial assistance to fly 38-year-old Shirlon Hollingsworth overseas for emergency eye surgery, after he was allegedly shot in the face with a rubber bullet by a member of the Guyana Police Force, during a police operation Tuesday evening.

Shirlon Hollingsworth before allegedly being shot by the GPF rank

The incident occurred between 22:00h and 23:00h at One Mile, Wismar, Region Ten.

According to Assistant Commissioner and Region 10 Commander, Kurleigh Simon, officers were dispatched to the area earlier that evening to disperse protestors who were reportedly blocking roads, burning debris, and throwing missiles at law enforcement.

Simon said, “Rubber pellets were used to disperse them.”

However, Hollingsworth’s wife, 35-year-old Nikkisha Hollingsworth, said her husband was not part of the protest. Instead, she explained, he had stepped outside to lock up their shop, which is located in the yard of their home, and to check on their vehicle.

The victim said he had just finished locking up when he heard running on the street. As he turned to head to his brother’s house in the front section of the property, a police officer reportedly aimed directly at him and fired.
“Soon as I turn around fuh push in the door… the police was right at the door by the fence, aimed his gun straight in me yard, straight to my face, and shoot,” he said. He alleged that the officer fired five more shots before leaving the scene.

Hollingsworth was first rushed to the McKenzie Hospital before being transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital. Medical officials have since confirmed that a foreign object larger than a standard rubber pellet is lodged deep within his right eye. Surgery could not be performed due to the depth and size of the object. Doctors placed him on antibiotic treatment and advised a two-week observation period to see if the blood in the eye would clear.

An injured Shirlon Hollingsworth

But the family says they cannot afford to wait.
“I am seeking financial help to get him out of the country as soon as tomorrow (Saturday) to conduct the surgery,” Hollingsworth’s wife told Kaieteur News.

She explained that her husband has completely lost vision in the injured eye, which is in a severely deteriorated condition. With the bullet still lodged inside, she fears that any delay in treatment could lead to permanent blindness. For this reason, she is urgently trying to take him to the United States to receive immediate medical attention.

Meanwhile, during a joint news conference by opposition political parties, Lindener and social activist Nigel London raised concerns about the manner in which the police has been enforcing the law.

“I don’t want to be in any way insensitive, but it seems to me like members of the Guyana Police Force are given an order to shoot in the eye, because another Lindener was shot in his eye, while he was in an apartment seeking to evade the policemen gunshots, reckless gunshots,” he said.

He continued, “We are here to demand that the officer be made known, his identity to be made known and there should be justice as well.”

As the family anxiously seeks financial support, time is running out to preserve Hollingsworth’s vision. Those willing to assist can contact the family directly through Mrs. Hollingsworth’s contact number 687-2181.

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financial help, Medical, police, Shirlon Hollingsworth, shooting

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