Off duty policeman accidentally shot by Police at Linden

The injured cop said he was left lying on the ground and was eventually pulled up by onlookers and another policeman came to say sorry and asked him to walk across to the nearby police station.

Off duty policeman accidentally shot by Police at Linden

An off duty policeman is nursing a gunshot wound to his left shoulder after he was accidentally shot early on Sunday morning by another policeman who was trying to arrest two men.

The incident took place just outside the Mackenzie Sports Club ground  in Linden as the off duty policeman, 22 year old, Lathaniel Giddidngs, was making his way into the All Black party.

Giddings who is attached to the Tactical Services Unit in Georgetown, said while he was walking into the venue, he noticed a uniformed police officer trying to arrest two men at the same time. Eyewitnesses said the men appeared to be resisting arrest and the officer reached into the side of his waist and pulled out a gun which went off and hit the off duty rank at the entrance.

The off duty officer told News Source “by the time I looked around and saw him trying to arrest these two guys, he went to his waist and next thing you know, the gun went off when he pulled it out. The bullet went right through my left shoulder and hit the wall behind me. I fell to the ground in pain and that man just looked at me, said sorry and continued to try to arrest those two men although I was injured and on the ground”.

The injured cop said he was left lying on the ground and was eventually pulled up by onlookers and another policeman came to say sorry and asked him to walk across to the nearby police station.

“Now imagine because of his negligence I was shot, I told them I am a policeman, I identified myself and the offered no assistance, I had to walk across with my injury to the police station and when I got there now, the gate was locked and the police in there staring me as if it was a joke. They eventually opened the gate and brought me here to the Mackenzie Hospital”, the injured cop said.

When News Source visited the injured officer, he was being prepared to be transported to Georgetown for surgery. He said he is originally from Linden but worked in Georgetown at the Tactical Services Unit and had travelled home for the town week celebrations.

He said the pain to his shoulder has been easing but he is worried about the injury because he is also an athlete.

The matter is being investigated.

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