Lindener Shirlon Hollingsworth is currently hospitalised after he was reportedly shot in his right eye when police allegedly opened fire at his home during a chase on Tuesday night.
He has since undergone surgery at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).
According to his wife, Kisha Hollingsworth, who gave an account during a Facebook Live broadcast, the incident occurred at approximately 22:00 hrs on Tuesday while her husband was about to secure his shop, which is situated in their One Mile yard.
She recalled hearing a commotion outside, and upon looking out, she saw police officers chasing two young men.
“When I peeked out, I saw two boys in the yard… apparently the police were after the boys who ran into the yard. I heard them running from the front and heading to the back, and Terry was tiptoeing at the back of the shop to go inside,” she recounted.Rather than going into their home as she advised, she said her husband chose instead to enter an adjacent house in the same yard, which is owned by his brother, and locked the door.
“Terry said when he opened the door slightly to peek out, the police pushed the door and looked him in the eye—and shot him in the eye,” she claimed.
She added that the incident left her traumatised, as she and her son were forced to hide under a bed in fear for their lives.
“I took my son and said, ‘Come, let’s go under the bed,’ because the police continued shooting around the house… I was fearful for my life, lying under the bed calling every single person I know,” she said.
Shirlon Hollingsworth was later rushed to receive medical attention.
Meanwhile, Regional Divisional Commander Kurleigh Simon, when contacted by Ignite News, confirmed that Hollingsworth had been shot during a police operation to clear the roadway on Tuesday night. He said the matter is currently under investigation.
“The young man never reported anything to the police, but we received the information and began investigating from last night. The police were clearing the road that people were blocking and where they were throwing objects at the police. So, if he’s claiming he was shot by police, he had to be in very close proximity to them,” Simon explained. “The police were clearing the main thoroughfare in the One Mile, Half Mile area.”
Residents in the Half Mile and One Mile communities reported hearing gunshots and experiencing tear gas throughout Tuesday night.
Earlier in the day, protesters had blocked the main access road into the communities, disrupting the free flow of traffic and livelihoods. Some protesters reportedly demanded a fee before removing the blockades to allow vehicles to pass.
Several businesses and schools in Linden have remained closed since the incident.
In a joint statement issued on Tuesday, Region 10 leaders urged those engaged in unlawful acts to desist.
While expressing support for justice in the cases of Adrianna Younge, Ronaldo Peters, and Keon Fogenay, the leaders strongly condemned acts of lawlessness, including looting, property destruction, and violence.
“We are profoundly disturbed by the actions of those who, under the cover of protest, have chosen a path of lawlessness—looting businesses, destroying property, and undermining the very spirit of the cause,” the statement read.
The leaders also urged the community to be vigilant against those who might exploit the current climate of grief and frustration to create division and unrest, calling on citizens to remain united in purpose and peace.
