Police ranks on surveillance duty on Saturday shot and injured a 22-year-old labourer who they feared would shoot at them.
The ranks were at the time combing the Plaisance, East Coast Demerara community for a suspect in the murder of Education Specialist Olato Sam.
The ranks searched nearby bushes where they shot the man and reported that a .32 pistol, without a serial number, and two rounds were recovered.
Police Headquarters reported that the incident occurred around 21:15hrs at Robert Road, Plaisance.
According to the Police, ranks from the Sparendaam Police station were in an unmarked vehicle conducting surveillance when they noticed the suspect, who was standing at the side of the road, next to a fence.
“The ranks exited the vehicle and the suspect started walking away and then went through a small opening in the fence. The ranks shouted for the suspect to stop, but instead, he reached into his waist and pulled out what seemed to be a firearm,” the Police explained.
As a result, the rank discharged a round which struck the suspect to his right thigh, causing him to fall into a nearby clump of bushes.
This, the Police said caused a build-up of people, comprising mostly family members of the suspect, who began to behave disorderly.
The suspect was picked up and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was admitted as a patient under police guard. His condition is listed as stable.
The firearm was lodged at the Sparendaam Police Station, as the investigation continues.
