ComPol Williams Addresses Discrepancies in Police Shooting

In an interview with the press today, Police Commissioner Chester Williams spoke on the ongoing investigation into the recent shooting of Emil Rivers in Independence Village.

The Professional Standards Branch (PSB) is currently leading the investigation.

Williams explained that Rivers had assaulted Inspector Rosado with a butcher knife, nearly killing him, before being arrested. After being detained, Rivers escaped from the police station and led authorities on a pursuit.

A standoff ensued, during which he brandished a machete, prompting police to fire several warning shots. When he failed to surrender, police eventually shot him in the stomach. Williams suggested there were details the public may not be aware of, which would be clarified with the release of the footage.

Williams was asked about Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Hilberto Romero’s statements on Monday, where he said that Rivers was shot in the leg. However, that is not true. Rivers was shot in the abdomen. “Perhaps Mister Romero was misinformed because from the inception, when the thing happened, I know it was in the stomach,” Williams explained.

He said that Romero might have relied on information from others. Williams said he hopes that there is no deliberate attempt to lie to the public. “I hope I’m right, but I believe that Mr. Romero was misinformed. I did not speak to Romero before he had that press brief. I don’t know what information he got, but from the incident that happened, I was briefed by the Southern Regional Commander, and he briefed me that a young man was shot in his stomach.”

Concerns about potential misrepresentation in the internal police report were also brought up. “Perhaps that’s a briefing that he might have gotten from I don’t know who. But if that is exactly what he said, I apologise to the public because that is not what happened.”