Georgetown: Orin Boston, 29, a businessman of Darmouth, Essequibo Coast, was shot dead allegedly by ranks of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Unit of the Guyana Poice Force (GPF) in the wee hours of Wednesday morning.
Commissioner of Police (ag) Nigel Hoppie has instructed that a thorough investigation be conducted into the shooting to death of Boston.
The Essequibo businessman was killed during a confrontation with members of the Police’s SWAT team.
Police Headquarters in a statement said the Police Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) will immediately commence the investigation.
The police report stated that ranks were conducting an anti-crime operation in Essequibo and at about 04:40hrs on Wednesday they went to Boston’s Dartmouth home to conduct a search.
“During the search, there was a confrontation between Orin Boston and the police resulting in him being shot to his upper left arm,” the police report said.
Boston operated the “Ease Meh Stress” Bar.
Following the incident, residents of the area began protesting by burning debris on the main access bridge, blocking the road and preventing traffic from flowing.
The police said ranks are on the ground making strenuous efforts to clear the road and control the situation.
“The Guyana Police Force is calling on citizens to desist from this unlawful activity and allow for due process to take its course with the ongoing investigations.”
The ongoing protest is also affecting the operations of the Charity Post Office and some services will not be available, the post office said in a statement.
The man’s sister, Latacy Boston explained that the police officers did not provide any explanation for being at the house. The sister, who lives in a separate building in the same yard where the incident occurred, explained that she had just woken up when the officers stormed her home.
“So, when I come out the room, they already kick down the door and was inside and they saying “nobody don’t move, nobody don’t move”, sit down there so, I went and I sit down in the chair. So, after I sit in the chair, the SWAT came in the went to my sister’s room door, my mom came out of her room and she was looking at them so, they ask everybody to sit down. So, I tell them could I go for my baby because I leave the baby in the room, they said yes go for the baby and I went and I get my phone and they said “no, no phones, no recording here” then I said “okay” and I eventually come and sit back down in the chair. It was five of them came in the house but they had more on the street, I don’t know how much of them on the street. They were wearing grey suits with black SWAT vests.”
“So, after they came in the house and we sit down they asked who live over deh. I said my brother live over there. So, they leave the house where we was sitting and they went over there. So I get up and I come outside and an officer was standing there with a gun, he said “go back inside, don’t come outside”. So, we end up go back inside and I sit down. Like a minute after, I heard a gunshot and after I heard the gunshot, I see the kids outside, then the wife came to the door…”
“My sister-in-law said she and her husband was in bed, She said he had a bath last night and he go in with his bare towel and he fall asleep with the towel. So, after he fall asleep with the towel, she said she heard the banging on the door, so when they [officers] kick down the room door, he jump up. She said when he jumped up, they shot him in his shoulder, they just shot him. They didn’t find no drugs, no ammunition, no weapon, no nothing they find anything.”
The woman said after her brother was shot, the officers tried to treat the wound at the scene.
“Nobody didn’t say anything. They had no word with us. When I came out, I see they lifting my brother and bringing him out, before they even lift him and bring him out, one of them run through the door and say “the bag, the bag, bring the bag.
“They bring him out, they rest him down there…he was butt naked, they put him down on the floor and after they put him down on the floor, the guy bring back the bag, I don’t know what was in the bag, if it was first aid items, I don’t know.
“So, they bring it back and they wrap his hand, try to put something on his hand and they saying “bring the van, bring the van,” so van back up and they throw him in the back of the van and they gone.”
The sister further posited that when she tried to get answers from the officers, they were rude and unprofessional.
“So, I come outside and I stand here and I said what happened and after I asked them what happened, the first guy, he didn’t answer, the other one say “nothing, nothing”. So, I go and pick up my phone and just raise it up, I didn’t video or anything, cause I was going to make a phone call to my other brother, so when I pick up the phone he said “no recording here, no recording”, and one of them walk and come to me and say “put away that phone”. So, I rest down back the phone on the veranda while they trying to get him into the van.”
“I was traumatised, so after he [a police officer] said “don’t say anything”, and I said “don’t say anything after yall just shoot my f***ing I must not say anything, that’s how it’s supposed to be?”. I said I coming with them, they said nobody is to leave the house. But I jump in my vehicle, which was parked there and I head behind them to Suddie [Hospital],” the woman explained.
“I go and I meet my brother on the bed. I go and I check his skin and after I go and check him, I feel his foot because his foot bottom was already white. The doctor said I can’t be in there, I said “okay”.
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