The father of a man shot eight times by an off-duty police officer at a gas station on Sunday night is calling for the Commissioner of Police to launch an investigation into the incident.
Franky Lewis, 59, of Penal, visited the T&T Guardian’s South Bureau office yesterday after seeing his son, Franklyn, in the hospital for the first time since the incident. He says CoP Stephen Williams needed to hear both sides of the incident as he believes the officer’s actions were totally unjustified.
According to police reports, around 10.15 pm on Sunday, an officer attached to the Criminal Gang and Intelligence Unit (CGIU) was at an NP Quick Shoppe along the SS Erin Road, Debe, when he was involved in an altercation with another customer.
The report stated that the officer was slapped and pushed to the ground.
According to the report, when his attacker began walking towards him with a glass bottle, the officer pulled out his firearm and fired several shots.
The attacker was wounded in his stomach and chest, police said.
Barrackpore police responded along with an ambulance and took both men to the San Fernando General Hospital.
But the elder Lewis said although there may have been a dispute between his son and the officer, he cannot understand why Franklyn was shot eight times. Franklyn, 31, a labourer, is his eldest son and lives with him in Penal.
“We were told he and his friend went into the service station, paid for gas and bought two beers,” Lewis said.
“When they came out, they saw someone break the line for gas and pull up in front of their car. “Franklyn was trying to explain to the man that they had already paid for the gas at the pump, but (the man) didn’t want to hear that.”
Lewis said his son and his friend did not know the man was a police officer at that time.
He said the man came out of his vehicle and the officer and Franklyn began arguing.
“They was arguing over whether this man should move or not and I think they had a scuffle, then the officer pulled out his revolver and began shooting Franklyn.”
Lewis said he wants an investigation into the officer’s actions.
“He shoot my son eight times at close range. The doctors telling me today my son lucky to be alive. Why he shoot my son eight times?” Lewis asked.
He said since the incident, he has not been able to rest, as he feels as though the incident will be swept under the rug.
“I went to three different police stations today before they would take my report...yet the Commissioner is on TV telling people they can go to any station to make a report? I feel like this is already being stifled. I want the CoP to get involved, police can’t be running mad like this.”
He said his son has only had one brush with the law before for fighting at a bazaar in Penal two years ago.
“Since then, he don’t give no set of trouble. He does work hard to provide for his daughter, making a day work here or a day work there.”
Franklyn has a 13-year-old daughter who is paralysed from the waist down.
Lewis said he intends to lodge a formal complaint with the Police Complaints Authority (PCA).
Franklyn is to undergo another surgery on Wednesday to remove a bullet that is lodged in his hip.