Sailor shot dead at Coast Guard HQ

AN Ordinary Seaman (OS) attached to the Coast Guard Headquarters, Staubles Bay, Chaguaramas was shot dead while sitting on a dormitory bed on Friday night. According to a report, Stephen Hodge, 20, was accidentally shot in his head by a colleague while sitting on a bed talking. Investigations revealed that Hodge, and other Ordinary Seamen were sitting in the dorm on various beds, while some were standing when Hodge’s colleague  picked up a Galil rifle lying on a bed that was just given to him. While picking up the gun, the butt struck the bedpost causing the colleague’s hand to slip pulling the trigger, shooting off a bullet which hit Hodge in his head. Hodge with 11 months service and who would have turned 21 in January,  died instantly.

Sunday Newsday was also told that the gun which was handed over to the OS shortly before he went into the dormitory, had no magazine and the officer was not aware a bullet was stuck in the breech. Military sources however refuted that explanation, since the gun’s structure does not allow it to go off easily, also there are procedures before a gun is handed over — it must be cleared of bullets, picked up in a certain way and not cleared in a room with other persons. A senior military personnel also further added: “It clearly shows procedures were not followed, however procedures differ from department to department.”

When contacted police told Sunday Newsday that while most of the evidence points to an accidental shooting, their  investigations remain open because of several inconsistencies in the reports. Insp George Ollivere is continuing inquiries. Meanwhile, family members of the dead man refused to give their views on the death or the circumstances. A senior Ministry of National Security official said that his department is concerned about the number of reported accidental shootings, a few of which are fatal that take place yearly in the various departments and will be doing a thorough investigation into the use and misuse of weapons, with plans to eradicate future accidents.