Ronaldo Peters: President says ‘professional’ probe with ‘independent’ support

As Linden residents began protests over the fatal police shooting of Rolando Peters, President Irfaan Ali Tuesday morning said authorities will conduct a “professional” probe and that “external, independent” support will be sought if necessary.

“The OPR (Office of Professional Responsibility) is undertaking their investigation and I am asking whether external support, if any, is needed that those support is sought to ensure that all parties are comfortable with the outcome of the investigation and the process of investigation,” President Ali said on the sidelines of an event at the Marriott Hotel in Georgetown.

Twenty-one- year-old Peters was shot and killed by a Police Sergeant around 17:30hrs in Linden.

Police, acting on information received went to Shabba bar in One Mile, Linden in search for Peters, who they said was wanted for rape.

The Police Sergeant, is currently under close arrest and has been moved to Georgetown.

Protest erupted in Linden on Tuesday morning over the shooting.

“I want to say to the residents that we are going to ensure with independent support that this matter is dealt with professionally and should not be exploited politically,” President Ali said.

Dr Ali said “the process must be followed and that process is what is undergoing.”

The shooting was captured on CCTV footage which shows that Peters was standing by the roadside in the company of a group of men, who were sitting. A heavily-tinted minibus then approached and men in white t-shirt and black pants emerged. Peters is seen fleeing from the scene and the policemen from the minibus chased after him. Seconds later, a policeman is seen dragging Peters by the neck and taking him to the vehicle.

Police Headquarters claimed that Peters was wanted for a rape that occurred sometime between 1st December 2024 and 31st January 2025.

The ranks went to the location armed with service weapons. Police headquarters claimed the ranks “were fully dressed in uniform,” but the CCTV footage shows otherwise.

It was claimed that Peters started to run and attempted to jump a fence. It is further alleged by the Sergeant that he managed to pull off Peters from the fence and in the process of subduing him, when his weapon went off and struck Peters to his abdomen.