Shooting victim dies after two ‘wakes’

DAMIEN “Wacko” Sutherland, who was shot in his head on Old Year’s Day, succumbed to his injuries Friday, after his family had already held two days of wake. The Lopinot Village teenager was shot in his head by a security officer after an exchange of words. According to reports, a nurse at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital contacted the family on Tuesday with news that he had died. With that information, the family held two days of wakes.

Based on the police request, the family went to the hospital on Thursday to arrange for the body’s transfer to the Forensic Science Centre for an autopsy, but they found out there was a mistake. “The nurse said the machine keeping him alive had cut off and they were receiving no vital signs, so he was deemed dead. It was sometime after that signs of breathing were observed, but neither the family nor police were contacted,” a shocked Stacy Sutherland told Sunday Newsday. The unemployed teen subsequently died at 11.45 am Friday at the PoSGH. Sutherland, 19, was shot at the corner of William and Hosein Streets in Lopinot on Old Year’s Day after a confrontation with officers from the Mi5 Investigation Services (SWAT Security Ltd).

According to reports, an officer attempted to search Sutherland and the youth walked off claiming they had no authority and were not real police. One of the officers allegedly kicked Sutherland to the ground and put a gun to the back of his head, when it went off. The bleeding man was rushed to the hospital. Before the youth’s death, a security officer appeared before Arima Magistrate Debra Quintyne on an attempted murder charge and was remanded in custody to re-appear this week. Cpl Baptiste laid the charge.