Fiery protest after police shooting

While police are conducting investigations into the circumstances surrounding the shooting, residents remain convinced that the victim’s only crime was to dare to be friendly with a woman who is with a policeman.

Akim “Maddo” Armstrong, 35, of building 54-56 George Street was shot in the chest by an officer from the Central Police Station at 1.30 pm. Residents claimed they heard a single gunshot and minutes later saw a policeman emerge from the apartment building with Armstrong, who was bleeding from his chest.

He was taken to the Port-of- Spain General Hospital and is warded in stable condition. The bullet remains lodged in Armstrong’s body, residents told Newsday. A woman who was in the apartment at the time of the shooting, has been detained by police. Shortly after the shooting, livid residents staged a protest and blocked off Prince, Nelson and George streets with debris which was set on fire.

As soon as the fires were put out on one street by firemen, protesters - all masked - moved to another, setting fire to debris and blocking off that street with a seemingly limitless supply of old fridges, garbage bins, trash and plywood. The protest led to a massive traffic pile-up in the Capital.

Up to press time, police did not give much information on the circumstances surrounding the shooting.

According to police, officers were conducting an operation in the area and Armstrong was shot. It was claimed that an illegal substance was found at the apartment. However, residents say Armstrong was shot by police because an officer believes he (Armstrong) was romantically with his woman.

Corey Armstrong described the victim - his brother - as a quiet person who kept to himself.

Armstrong works as a messenger with the Ministry of Local Government.

While on his hospital bed, the wounded Armstrong told relatives that he and the woman had just, “gotten together.” “We begged the police officer to talk to him,” said Armstrong (C).

“He was still weak so he did not talk much. He said that some new girl he was with has a policeman friend. He told us that he heard a knock on the door and when he opened it, he heard a loud bang.

He did not even know that he was shot until he felt a burning sensation in the chest,” Armstrong said.