Friday, October 30 2009

ACTING Commissioner of Police James Philbert yesterday confirmed that a police firearm was used to shoot 45-year-old Lander Rodney of Maraval in his left forearm. Philbert said the injury was caused by an accidental discharge of a policeman’s firearm while officers were in a police vehicle.

“We are happy the person involved was not fatally injured, the injury I understand, is not very serious,” Philbert said. “At this time, we are investigating that person and will continue to do so until we have a complete understanding as to how this incident could have occurred,” he added.

Philbert also extended his apologies to Rodney and all persons who were nearby when the incident took place. On Monday, Rodney was returning from picking up his five-year-old daughter Ronella, from St Catherine’s Primary School and was at the corner of Duke and Edward Streets in Port-of-Spain when he was shot. Rodney was at the time heading back to work at Colfire’s office at Duke and Abercromby Streets, where he is a courier. It was reported by eyewitnesses that at about 3 pm, a police vehicle drove up along Edward Street when a shot rang out. Rodney was shot in his left forearm with a bullet fragment hitting him in the left thigh. Rodney was taken to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital where he was treated.