The Police Complaints Authority (PCA) on Sunday announced that it has completed investigations into the shooting death of 23-year-old Golden Grove, East Coast Demerara (ECD) resident, Quindon Bacchus.
The PCA has recommended that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Shalimar Ali-Hack, SC, charge three Police ranks over the fatal shooting which occured on June 10 at Haslington, ECD.
However, PCA’s Chairman, retired Judge William Ramlall said it is for the DPP to decide who is to be charged and what offence (s) he/she/ they is/are to be charged with.
While the PCA did not disclose the names of the ranks, one of them has been identified as Police Lance Corporal Kristoff De Nobrega.
Bacchus’ cause of death was given as multiple gunshot wounds. From the outset Police Commissioner (ag) Clifton Hicken had assured the dead man’s family that no stone will be left unturned in the probe.
Meanwhile, Lance Corporal De Nobrega, who allegedly shot Bacchus six times has been placed on open arrest and is confined to the Tactical Services Unit (TSU) Headquarters, Eve Leary, Georgetown.
Police Headquarters had reported that Police ranks at around 14:30 hrs on the day in question, went to Haslington New Scheme, ECD where they saw Bacchus, a father of one, with a gun.
The ranks were at the time carrying out an intelligence-led operation, based on information received earlier in the day.
The ranks had made contact with a 22-year-old construction worker who provided certain information.
The construction worker led ranks to Bacchus who was in possession of a firearm and intended to sell it to one of the ranks.
The plain-clothes rank, De Nobrega, who was armed, made arrangements to purchase the firearm from Bacchus, who left and then returned with the weapon.
In the process of handing over the firearm to the rank, an alarm was raised. As a result, Bacchus ran in a southern direction and discharged a round in the rank’s direction. The rank then drew his service pistol and returned fire.
Bacchus then ran further south and jumped into a yard, and the rank gave chase and while in close proximity, Bacchus discharged several other rounds towards the rank who took cover and returned fire, hitting the now deceased man about his body.
He fell to the ground along with the firearm which was later identified as a .380 pistol and a magazine with one round. The said rank took possession of the firearm and ammunition.
Bacchus was picked up in a conscious state and escorted to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation where he died while receiving treatment.
The firearm and ammunition that were recovered in his possession were dusted for fingerprints, photographed and lodged at the Cove and John Police Station, ECD.
