Corentyne man fatally shot after attempting to attack police with cutlass - reports
A Corentyne man succumbed to his injuries yesterday at the New Amsterdam Public Hospital after he was shot on Saturday after allegedly charging towards policemen with a cutlass while they were attempting to arrest him.
Dead is Mark Johnson, of Nurney Village, Corentyne. Stabroek News was told yesterday that Johnson sustained gunshot injuries to his right leg.
He was initially rushed to the Port Mourant Hospital, after which he was transferred to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital where he succumbed yesterday.
Attempts to contact Commander of B Division, Paul Langevine for information on the matter proved futile, as several calls to his phone went unanswered yesterday afternoon.
However, Crime Chief, Lyndon Alves last evening said that an investigation is presently ongoing, noting that a life was lost.
According to persons in the area, an intoxicated Johnson on Saturday evening armed with a cutlass began to issue threats and pelt bottles at a relative’s house. The relative contacted the police in the area.
This newspaper was told that ranks on a patrol approached Johnson at his home and requested that he put away his cutlass and desist from issuing threats towards the woman. However, an agitated Johnson reportedly attempted to attack the police with his cutlass.
Residents in the area said that Johnson fired a chop in the direction of the police and was charging towards them when two warning shots were reportedly fired. As Johnson allegedly continued his advance, he was then shot in his right leg multiple times.