Wining, partying continued

An annual fete at the La Brea Pitch Lake on Sunday continued in full swing, even as a party-goer,  shot dead by a policeman, lay on the ground for almost two hours in the middle of the fete. The lifeless body of 21-year-old Don King remained in the middle of the party, surrounded by police officers, while party-goers continued wining and gyrating near the body.

King, of Sobo Village in La Brea,  a father of one, was reportedly shot during a clash between the police and a group of patrons which resulted in a policeman being hospitalised in serious condition at the San Fernando General Hospital. Police reports stated that Cpl Straker, PCs Richardson, Baptiste, Gokool and Scott were on duty at Lake Splash fete around 6.30 pm, when they arrested a La Brea man for narcotics. The man resisted and a scuffle ensued. The other officers went to the assistance of Cpl Straker, and a crowd converged around the officers and attempted to free the suspect. The crowd reportedly began pelting bottles at the officers.

According to conflicting reports, King struck PC Baptiste on the left side of his face with a bottle and the officer fell to the ground. The deceased reportedly stood over the officer, pulled out a fish knife from his pants’ waist and lunged at the officer. Another officer drew his revolver and fired two rounds at the man, and one of the bullets struck him in his back. King dropped the weapon, ran a short distance away and slumped to the ground. The police took him to the Point Fortin Area Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. PCs Baptiste, Gokool, Scott and Richardson were treated at the San Fernando General Hospital, and all were discharged except for Baptiste.

However, King’s relatives are claiming that the police shot him while he was handcuffed and running through the crowd. His uncle, Leroy, who was also in the party, denied that his nephew and his friends had a clash with the police. He said the police had arrested King’s friend for possession of marijuana. “The police slap his (King) partner and his partner slap back the police and took  a bottle and hit the officer on his head. They handcuff  my nephew and he run and the police fired three shots. One hit him in his back,” he said. Leroy said his nephew and his friends may have been smoking marijuana, but the police did not have to kill him. “They leave him on the ground for almost two hours. They did not even announce a man was shot, or stop the party. The fete continued as normal. We want justice,” Leroy said.

Leroy claimed there was another motive behind his nephew’s death. “The officer who shot Don use to threaten him because his (Don) girlfriend is the policeman’s ex-girlfriend.” ACP (South) Dennis Graham said he received a report yesterday and an investigation has been launched into the incident. “Notwithstanding the conflicting reports, a proper investigation will be conducted,” he assured. An autopsy was expected to be performed yesterday at the Forensic Science Centre, St James. ASP Valdez is heading the investigation.