Police constable shot by fellow rank

THE Guyana Police Force is investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting of police Constable Leroy English by another police constable whose name was given as Jeffers. The Guyana Chronicle was informed that the drama began on the West Bank of Demerara when a strange car, PSS 1724, passed the vehicle of a senior police officer and crossed the Demerara Harbour Bridge.

Incidentally the car in which the senior officer was travelling pulled into the corner shortly before the strange car sped past and two other vehicles with police ranks inside who were aware that the senior police was ahead of them did not see his vehicle. They thought the strange car had caused the vehicle with the senior rank inside to run off the road.
Incidentally also the rank who was shot is not familiar with the ranks who were in the other vehicle but everyone was familiar with the senior police officer. They began giving chase after the strange vehicle which attempted to cross the Demerara Harbour Bridge.
While the car with constable Jeffers and some rural constables continued racing across the DHB behind the strange car, Constable English stopped at the west end of the bridge, identified himself and instructed the guards there to close off the eastern end of the bridge.
English then proceeded to the eastern side of the bridge where he saw the two vehicles. However, still not being familiar with the occupants of the strange vehicle he went up to the heavily tinted vehicle, took out his identification badge and attempted to show it to the occupants of the white vehicle.
This publication later learnt that the strange vehicle was being driven by the son of a businessman and the driver after failing to lower the windows, drove through the cordon at the DHB.
The chase continued with the vehicle that Constable Jeffers and the rural constables were in while Constable English who was the lone occupant in his vehicle re-entered his car and followed the two. According to information, by the time he reached the entrance to the DHB where the traffic lights are situated he noticed that the two vehicles were heading north along the East Bank Demerara roadway at a fast rate and he followed.
This publication was told that during the chase the vehicle in which the businessman’s son was travelling turned back and headed south along the East Bank and upon noticing that, English exited his vehicle. It would appear that as the occupants of the businessman’s vehicle saw English who had earlier approached them at the DHB the vehicle stopped and the occupants exited while those in Jeffers’ vehicle also came out.
The Guyana Chronicle was told that when the occupants from the vehicle in which the businessman’s son was travelling exited, one of them was seen holding a .38 revolver while the other had a pistol in his possession. It was at that time that everyone began identifying themselves as policemen.
Then shots were discharged as voices were heard shouting ‘cease fire you are shooting at a police’. However the shooting continued and English attempted to run to safety. It was then that he was shot to the arm and again to the foot which rendered him immobile and Constable Jeffers rushed to his assistance. This newspaper was told that when English was shot he threw his hands up along with his identification card and gun but shots were still being fired.
He was then taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was rushed into the Operation Theatre and up to late yesterday was still hospitalized.
Crime Chief Leslie James yesterday told the Chronicle when contacted that the matter is under police investigation. He said that based on his information the weapons were confiscated and lodged and tests will be carried out to determine which one was used to fire the shots that hit English.
This newspaper was, however, able to confirm that the weapon which shot English was the one being carried by Jeffers who opened fire after suspecting him to be a bandit.
A search of the vehicle which the businessman’s son was driving and the occupants found that they had nothing illegal in their possession.
The businessman’s vehicle and one of its occupants remain in police custody even as Constable Jeffers has been placed under close arrest.

(By Leroy Smith)