A protest over the police killing of a young Lindener has escalated in the mining town, with reports of gunfire and a protestor and a Policeman being shot and the Wismar/McKenzie Bridge blocked.
Ronaldo Peters, 21, was shot and killed by a Police Sergeant around 17:30hrs in Linden.
Images and videos posted on social media shows debris burning on the bridge. The Bridge is a major link to some of Guyana’s interior regions like the Rupununi and Mahdia.
Reports also indicate that the new four-lane bridge under construction was also lit on fire. Several roads in the community of One Mile, Wismar have also being blocked by protesters.
A snippet of the Wismar/McKenzie Bridge on Tuesday, April 8, 2025 (Source: Travis Chase/Facebook)
President Irfaan Ali on Tuesday morning assured authorities will conduct a “professional” probe and that “external, independent” support will be sought if necessary.
“I want to say to the residents that we are going to ensure with independent support that this matter is dealt with professionally and should not be exploited politically,” President Ali said.
The shooting was captured on CCTV footage which shows that Peters was standing by the roadside in the company of a group of men, who were sitting. A heavily-tinted minibus then approached and men in white t-shirt and black pants emerged. Peters is seen fleeing from the scene and the policemen from the minibus chased after him. Seconds later, a policeman is seen dragging Peters by the neck and taking him to the vehicle.
Police Headquarters claimed that Peters was wanted for a rape that occurred sometime between 1st December 2024 and 31st January 2025.
The ranks went to the location armed with service weapons. Police headquarters claimed the ranks “were fully dressed in uniform,” but the CCTV footage shows otherwise.
It was claimed that Peters started to run and attempted to jump a fence. It is further alleged by the Sergeant that he managed to pull off Peters from the fence and in the process of subduing him, when his weapon went off and struck Peters to his abdomen.
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