Glen Gabriel, the driver of the vehicle involved in last month’s fatal police shooting of a 17-year-old near the intersection of the Chaussee and La Pansee roads, appeared before traffic court on Tuesday. He has been charged with several counts of traffic violations. A police press release at the time of the shooting claimed that “one nine millimeter (9mm) firearm was recovered by officers from the said individuals.” One of those referred to was the deceased Arnold Joseph, an Entrepot Secondary School student.
At a police press conference on Thursday, ACP Wayne Charlery, confirmed that the gun in question was found “en route” which seemed to contradict the earlier police statement. “The firearm was found en route with reference to where the incident occurred in the city. It was recovered outside of the vehicle on the route where the incident occurred in terms of the case.”
Charlery said the gun was not recovered by the officers involved in the fatal shooting. “We have a crime scene unit that examines all crime scenes and they would have been the ones to have recovered that firearm.”
He said the officers involved in the deadly chase remained on active duty, helping with related investigations. “We have not reached the stage in the investigative process as yet to determine whether they should be on active duty or not,” Charlery added.
One month after the incident, the police have filed no gun-related charges. Two weeks ago, Commissioner Severin Monchery told the STAR this was not unusual; that there could be gun charges down the road. On Thursday, Charlery made the observation: “Traffic charges were placed on an individual. However, we could not charge on the firearm that was found, since there was insufficient evidence to link it at the time to any of the individuals aboard the vehicle.” He said that could change “if the investigative process determines that.” He added: “There is certainly a possibility, because like I said, all related samples in that regard have been taken, examined and sent to the forensic lab for further testing and we’re hoping that reports on the results will come out. Based on those reports, we will know exactly what to do. We’re allowing the investigation to take its due course and from the results that follow, we will make a determination and be as unbiased as possible.”
The police have also denied statements that they had been fired upon during the car chase that ended with the death of teenager Arnold Joseph, who was laid to rest last Saturday, following an earlier well-attended vigil.
