Shooter still at large

The Royal Barbados Police Force (RBPF) is still on the hunt for a man suspected of injuring one of their own during a shooting at Henley, St John two weeks ago.

Barbados TODAY has also uncovered new information, which suggests that on the day in question, the injured constable, formed part of a high level security detail accompanying Prime Minister Mia Mottley on a tour of the plantation in the area.

An internal police report has indicated that while at Henley Plantation Yard, the Prime Minister’s official security officer radioed the constable and another officer alerting them to a man and a motorcar at the entrance to the area.

“As they were returning to the long driveway to the plantation yard at the entrance, they saw a man who was clad in short green pants and a white shirt,” the report indicated.

“On seeing the man, Constable (name withheld), who was driving the vehicle stopped and got out and was about to question the man when the man pointed a firearm at him and fired one shot which struck him in his left arm between the wrist and elbow and exited,” it continued.

According to the report, the assailant “ran around the back of the vehicle” whilst pointing the firearm at the other officers before escaping. The injured constable was transported to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) where he was treated and detained.

Further details suggest that police later stopped a vehicle in Bibby’s Lane, St Michael and the driver, Troy O’neal Wiltshire, 42 was detained.

When questioned about the report, Police Public Relations Officer, Sergeant Michael Blackman did not confirm whether Wiltshire was a person of interest in the matter.

Prime Minister Mia Mottley’s Press Secretary Roy Morris indicated that he could not comment, as the matter is under police investigation.

“I am not answering any questions at all other than to tell you that the matter is the subject of a police investigation,” he told Barbados TODAY.

A source close to the situation confirmed that the PM was in the general area, but emphasized that she was “very far” from where the incident occurred.

Commissioner of Police Tyrone Griffith confirmed this account but stressed that the Prime Minister was not even in “earshot” of the shooting.

He explained that the injured officer is not a member of her “intimate or immediate” security detail but that he is assigned to the branch which provides additional security.

Last Thursday, Wiltshire was remanded after pleading guilty to a slew of traffic offences including failing to provide a driver’s licence or any form of ID to police, using fraudulent vehicle licence plates and dangerous driving. He was also charged with breaching Paragraph (21) of the Emergency Management (Covid-19) Curfew (No. 3) Directive for being outdoors at Bibby’s Lane around 12:43 p.m. without a reasonable explanation.   

The police summary presented at the hearing indicated that the vehicle carried the licence plates identical to those on the vehicle driven by the shooter at Henley.

But according to Commissioner Griffith, the police has no evidence to suggest that he carried out the shooting.

“There is no evidence that points to him being that person…[Wiltshire] was interviewed, and the charges brought against him were the relevant charges and there is nothing at this time to link him to any further crimes,” the Commissioner told Barbados TODAY.

“The person who is suspected of committing the shooting is still at large,” he added.

The injured officer’s condition has been consistently reported as stable and according to Commissioner Griffith,  he is improving “by the day” and is expected to make a full recovery. kareemsmith@barbadostoday.bb

Editor’s Note: The name of the police constable has been withheld because of the nature of his job with the Royal Barbados Police Force’s Special Branch.