A 45-year-old man of Dowding Street, Kitty, Peter Headley, was shot dead by a police officer after he and another man were arrested and were being escorted to the Providence Police Station, on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD) early Sunday morning, according to police reports.
Police Headquarters in a statement noted that Headley and the other man were intercepted by police at Nandy Park, EBD, at around 20:45 hrs on Saturday night. The officers, who intercepted the men were acting on information received following an armed robbery that occurred at Herstelling, on Tuesday night.
Upon interception, the men’s vehicle was searched and a television set that is suspected to have been stolen during the armed robbery was found. As a result of this discovery, Headley and the other man were arrested and were being escorted to the Providence Police Station.
It was related that Headley was placed in the front passenger seat of the same civilian vehicle, driven by a police officer, while police officers, including one armed officer, sat in the back seat with the other suspect. It is unclear how many other officers were there.
During the transportation, however, police reported that Headley reached under the front seat of the vehicle and pulled out “what appeared to be a firearm”, causing the armed rank to shoot Headley.
Headley was taken to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre on the EBD where he succumbed while receiving medical treatment.
The police report did not indicate whether the alleged firearm that Headley was reaching for was subsequently found.
Meanwhile, the Police Office of Professional Responsibility is conducting investigations into the incident. This body is tasked with ensuring that best practices are obtained in all spheres of the Guyana Police Force.
This body is tasked with investigating allegations of police negligence, misconduct and impropriety among others, auditing Force procedures, the integrity testing of members of the Force and conducting investigations into allegations/complaints made directly to the Department.
