BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – A cloud of mystery continues to hover over the incident involving a member of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force, which left a young Nevisian dead and the officer with an injury to his head.
The Federation awoke Saturday morning (Oct. 17) to news that a teenager was shot by an off-duty police officer while at a bar in Nevis and that the young man had subsequently succumbed to his injuries at the Alexandra Hospital.
The deceased is 17-year-old Philo Wallace of Hamilton Village.
Since the incident occurred, relatives, friends and others across the Federation have been hankering for justice to be done relative to the matter.
Yesterday (Oct. 19), the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force held a press conference at the Charlestown Police Station, during which Acting Commissioner of Police Stafford Liburd rehashed what the Force had previously released to the public as the bare circumstances of the incident.
He explained that “the facts known to date are at approximately 3:45 a.m. on Saturday, an altercation took place between several people, including a police officer, at Enrique Bar located in Cedar Trees, Charlestown, Nevis. During this incident, the officer discharged his firearm. The 17-year-old male was fatally wounded. The officer received a head injury. The deceased was taken to the Alexandra Hospital by a private vehicle and was later pronounced dead at 4:10 a.m.”
Other reports reaching this publication suggest that Philo’s killing might have been one of passion.
One such report came from the victim’s aunt, Hyacinth Wallace-Forbes, a.k.a. ‘Smiling Lady’, who called into Freedom FM’s ‘Issues’ Programme on Monday (Oct. 18) and bemoaned the fact that he was shot to the region of the heart and questioned the officer’s use of excessive force.
A sorrowful Wallace-Forbes told the host of the programme that it is being said on Nevis that “it is alleged that Philo dey wid he ouman. And because Philo dey wid he ouman, he don’t want Philo dey wid he ouman. And dat ah wah cause Philo death today.”
One individual contacted this media house by telephone and asked the following questions: “Police Officers who carry firearms are supposedly well-trained to use them. The question in this incident is, couldn’t the officer have shot the young man in his leg rather than in his chest? Secondly, was the young man shot within the confines of Enrique’s Bar or outside of it? If it were within the confines of the Bar, did the officer take into consideration that other people were within the area at the same time? Did he take into consideration that an innocent person could have been shot, seeing the police reported that it was an altercation?”
In addition to the numerous questions posed by the caller, who preferred to remain anonymous, he also asked if the deceased was the police officer’s intended target.
One of the questions asked by a number of media representatives at yesterday’s press conference was whether the deceased was the one who struck the officer on his head with an object during the altercation.
Assistant Commissioner of Police with responsibility for Crime, Ian Queeley said it was too early in the investigation for “feedback” to be given on that particular issue. It was however indicated that the Police Force is “committed to providing you with timely updates on this matter as the information becomes available”.
He also said that simultaneous investigations are being made by two arms of the Police Force - the Violent Crimes Unit and the Office of Professional Standards.
As for the officer who shot Wallace, his identity, according to the High Command, is being withheld for security reasons and he is currently on sick leave. It was however revealed by Commander of the Nevis Division, Superintendent Hilroy Brandy, that the officer had permission to carry a firearm while off-duty.
The Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force has offered condolences to Wallace’s family and urged “the community, in particular in Hamilton, Nevis and the surrounding areas, to offer your prayers and support to the family so they may find comfort in this difficulty time”.
“The RSCNPF appeals to the public for patience as we continue to gather evidence in order to investigate this matter fully. This investigation will be conducted thoroughly and transparently in order to establish the truth. The Violent Crimes Unit of the RSCNPF is investigating this incident and appeals to anyone who witnessed this event to please come forward. You may do so by calling the Violent Crimes Unit at 467-1886, 467-1887 or 467-1888 or anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-8477,” the Acting Commissioner said.
