Cops on Trial for Shooting Death of Runaway Prisoner

Rasheed Elijio

Also before Judge Denis Hanomansingh in the Punta Gorda Courts, two cops are on trial for the shooting death of eighteen year old inmate Rasheed Elijio. He along with Brian Garcia had escaped from the police station in that jurisdiction. Elijio was shot and killed back in May of 2013; he was reportedly shot to the left side of the body in the Carib Reserve Area of Punta Gorda when police were pursuing him.  But it wasn’t until September of 2014 that Police Constable David Griffith was charged for manslaughter. Police Officer Leo Cho has also been charged in connection with the shooting death of Elijio. His attorney, Dickie Bradley, told News Five today that the evidence is looking weak against Cho.

Richard “Dickie” Bradley

Richard “Dickie” Bradley, Attorney for Leo Cho

“The shooting death of escaped prisoner Rasheed Elijio, who was about nineteen or twenty-one at the time of the shooting; he was a prisoner, a remandee, at the Punta Gorda Police Station. He and another prisoner, Brian Garcia, even though they were handcuffed, they decided to make a break for it from the police station. They were able to reach the bushes and in the bushes, he got shot. And in that case, one accused, a witness has come forward; the other prison says he saw when a police shot the man. And the other person who is charged is being charged because he is accused of being a part to the shooting. This is coming to an end sometime this coming week. They are calling one more witness, an expert to link the firearm and the slug recovered from the body to one of the police guns. And then the prosecution, if they call no other witness will close their case about Tuesday or Wednesday. Then the defense will start and then we will summon the case; it is a jury trial in that case because it is a manslaughter in the matter.”

In the trial, Griffith is being represented by Defense Attorney Oscar Selgado.