Charges for 3 cops in shooting death of Quindon Bacchus

The Police Complaints Authority (PCA) has completed the investigation into the shooting death of 23-year-old Quindon Bacchus and recommended that three members of the Guyana Police Force are charged with his killing.

“I recommended to the Director of Public Prosecutions that three members of the Police Force are to be charged. It is for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to determine who is to be charged and what offences he/she/they is/are to be charged for,” Chairman of the PCA Justice retired William Ramlall said in a press release on Sunday afternoon.

Ramlall noted that the file will be sent to the DPP later on Sunday.

Bacchus was shot dead on June 10, 2022, at Haslington, East Coast Demerara during an alleged undercover police operation.

It is alleged that he was selling an illegal firearm to an undercover policeman identified as Kristoff De Nobrega, during which shots were fired and Bacchus ended up dead.

Last week, the East Coast corridor saw a violent and fiery protest after an inaccurate media report by a facetious online entity reported that De Nobrega was released from custody.

The violent protest led to vendors at the Mon Repos market being beaten and robbed.

According to the official police report on the shooting, ranks were carrying out an intelligence-led operation during which De Nobrega made arrangements to purchase a firearm from Bacchus who left and then returned with the firearm.

While handing over the firearm, an alarm was raised which resulted in Bacchus attempting to escape while reportedly shooting at ranks.

Police said De Nobrega returned fire and Bacchus was shot. The illegal 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.

De Nobrega remains under open arrest and confined to the headquarters of the Tactical Services Unit.

It is not known who the two other ranks are that will be charged.