Latest update May 14th, 2024 12:59 AM
Jun 13, 2009 News
Daniel Usher, known as Shaggy, of Number 30 Village, West Coast Berbice, was shot dead by Police in what many said were controversial circumstances, during a reported confrontation between himself and two ranks in the village.
The shooting occurred around midday yesterday.
Usher, 45, was shot by a policeman who had tried to arrest him on a report of threatening language. Many residents and eyewitnesses alleged that the shooting was an excessive use of force and could have been avoided.
Reports are that Usher resisted arrest and snatched a cutlass and chased the two policemen.
It was while running away that one of the two policemen who was armed with a shotgun, turned around and discharged a round at him. He died on the spot.
Residents said that Usher was a handyman around the village and a cow miner.
They said that the dead man was also a known dreadlocked character, who was at times mentally unstable.
“He always with he cutlass going in the backdam and he won’t interfere with you if you don’t interfere with him. He was a bit soft in the head but no bandit.”
Yesterday’s shooting sparked a great deal of anger among many residents in the village, as well as eyewitnesses who said that the deadly use of the firearm was unnecessary.
One eyewitness said: “It is true that the man had a cutlass in his hands but at the time the policeman opened fire he was already about forty feet away and the man had already stopped chasing him.”
“He bent down to pick up a stone to throw at the policeman, when the Officer turned around and shoot him.”
“There was no warning shot; no attempt to shoot him in the legs. He just shoot to kill,” the resident said.
“Even if he had shot him in the legs that would have been enough.” another eyewitness said.
Others lamented that the person or persons who had made the report, had not complained to the relatives of the dead man to have the matter sorted out at that level.
Reports yesterday said that the shooting was being investigated by senior officials of the Guyana Police Force.
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