Man shot dead during Linden protests was a father of 4

Keon Fogenay, commonly known as “Dan”, a 32-year-old father of four was this morning shot dead by police officers who were trying to quell a protest in Linden, Region Ten (Upper Demerara-Berbice) that erupted following the fatal police shooting of a 21-year-old man from the community.

Fogenay, a resident of Block 22, Wismar, Linden, had just arrived in the mining town, after travelling from Georgetown, and was on his way home when he was shot, according to family members.

“Dan wasn’t in no protest. I was out there whole morning; he had just come up from town and is ride he was riding to go home and that was when they shoot him and kill him. He didn’t do anything and it was from a close range they shoot him and kill him,” a family member, who wished to remain anonymous, told this publication.

Fogenay was employed in Georgetown, the relative noted.

The protest, which initially began at around 06:00hrs with a small gathering at Boom Bread Corner, rapidly intensified in less than an hour with persons assembling at the Four Corner, blocking off sections of the One Mile Public Road.

They subsequently moved to both the existing and new Wismar to Mackenzie bridges, setting fire to both structures – interfering with construction works as well as disrupting the transportation networks. The residents say they were protesting for a thorough investigation into the police killing of the Linden youth, Ronaldo Peters.

Peters was shot dead at around 17:30hrs on Monday, at One Mile, Wismar, Linden.

The Guyana Police Force in a statement said Peters was wanted for rape. In this regard, the police said a sergeant from the Wismar Police Station received information that Peters was seen at Shabba Bar in the One Mile area. As a result, the sergeant, armed with a 9mm service pistol, and another rank, armed with a .38 service revolver, went to the location.

Upon arrival at Shabba Shop, Peters was reportedly spotted. It is alleged that upon seeing the police ranks, he attempted to flee and tried to jump a nearby fence.

According to police, the Sergeant managed to pull Peters off the fence, and during the process of restraining him, his service pistol, held in his right hand, discharged, striking Peters.

Peters was taken to the Mackenzie Public Hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries while receiving treatment.

Meanwhile, the cops involved in the fatal shooting have been placed under close arrest as the Office of Professional Responsibility with support from the Regional Security System (RSS) investigates the situation.

Nevertheless, residents of Linden continued to protest. According to a statement from the GPF, its ranks discharged rounds at the crowd in an effort to mitigate the situation where they were burning tyres and destroying government infrastructure.

However, the police noted that as its ranks engaged the protesters, they were greeted with missiles. The Force noted that one of the rounds discharged by its officers resulted in the demise of a ‘protester’ – Fogenay.

The ranks involved in that operation were also placed under arrest and the OPR has also commenced investigations.

Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces President Dr Irfaan Ali, in a statement, said “every aspect of these incidents will be examined thoroughly and transparently, with external oversight.”

He also committed to meeting with family members and community leaders to ensure their voices are heard and their concerns fully taken into account.

“I am appealing to all residents to remain calm and allow the independent investigation to be completed. All actions required as a result of the findings from this investigation will be pursued to the fullest extent,” the president assured.