The report of the investigation into the March 1, shooting of five youths on Sheriff street, which resulted in the death of Yohance Douglas, did not say that only one officer discharged his weapon at the car in which the youths were travelling.
Besides Douglas' death, Ronson Grey was shot in the mouth and O'Neil King was shot in the arm. Grey is still hospitalised and has initiated civil proceedings against the police.
Informed sources point out to Stabroek News that while Police Commissioner (ag) Floyd McDonald said when both vehicles stopped, policemen exited their vehicle "... and one of the ranks discharged a number of rounds in an indiscriminate manner which resulted in the death of one person and injuries to others," he did not mean that no other officer discharged his weapon. "That was not the finding of the investigation," this newspaper was told.
They point out too that the action likely to be taken after the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has tendered its advice to the police would not be inconsistent with the commissioner's statement or the report.
The report was sent to both the DPP chambers and to the Chairman of the Police Complaints Authority for review, with the latter expected to offer his recommendations to the DPP, which could be a factor when the DPP chambers tenders its advice to the police.
Reliable sources told Stabroek News that the report indicated that at least two officers discharged their weapons based on ballistics tests of the weapons of the officers who were in the vehicle. Stabroek News understands that one of the weapons was discharged about ten times and the other at least once.
This newspaper understands that based on the report it is likely that one of the officers would be charged with murder and the other with attempted murder.
McDonald's statement had raised concern that the report seemed to contradict the reports of the four youths as well as eyewitnesses who made statements to the Guyana Bar Association and to the media.
The Commissioner had told the media that based on legal advice he could not disclose what were the recommendations in the report as this would have been a departure from the normal procedure.