The policeman who shot and killed 23-year-old Quindon Bacchus remains under “open arrest” and is “confined to Police Headquarters”, a brief statement from the Guyana Police Force on Tuesday noted.
The police statement is in response to reports on social media that the cop, identified as Kristoff Denobrega, of Golden Grove Village, East Coast Demerara, was released from custody.
These reports have since resulted in the blocking of the road at Golden Grove where people are protesting and calling for justice for Bacchus.
“The Guyana Police Force is cognizant that there is a blockage of a section of the East Coast of Demerara road in the vicinity of Golden Grove which is disrupting the flow of traffic. The GPF is urging persons to desist from this illegal act and clear the roadway.
“The GPF would like to debunk the false claims being made that the policeman involved in the shooting death of Quindon Bacchus was released from police custody.
“In fact, the police rank in question is under open arrest and confined to Police Headquarters. The matter is still under investigation,” the police report noted.
Bacchus, a father of one, was shot dead by a plain-clothes police rank on June 10 at Haslington, East Coast Demerara (ECD). The police’s version is that he attempted to sell an illegal firearm to the undercover cop who shot him.
However, witnesses are now coming forward with information that Bacchus and the cop in question knew each other and had an ongoing feud.
The investigation into Bacchus’ death is being handled by the Police Complaints Authority and the Police Commissioner (ag) Clifton Hicken has charged the entity to “expedite” the probe. According to the official police report, ranks were carrying out an intelligence-led operation in the area during which the plain-clothes rank made arrangements to purchase the firearm from Bacchus who left and then returned with the firearm.
While in the process of handing over the firearm, an alarm was raised which resulted in the now dead man attempting to escape while reportedly shooting at ranks.
Police said the rank returned fire and Bacchus was shot. The firearm was later identified as a .380 pistol with a magazine that had one round.
The News Room understands that Bacchus was reportedly shot six times to the body and once to the head.
Sounds like an overkill. Shot six times to the body and once to the head is definitely an execution.