Policeman shot during prisoner recapture dies

Last Updated on Saturday, 26 December 2015, 21:00 by GxMedia

A policeman has died after he was shot during efforts to recapture a robbery suspect who had minutes earlier fled custody with the firearm of another rank while at the GPHC for medical treatment.

The dead man has been identified as Detective Corporal Seburn Elias. Reports say the unarmed policeman was shot to the abdomen during a scuffle with the escapee.

Elias died while receiving medical treatment at the GPHC Monday night.

The suspect identified as 23-year old Delon Abrams, was recaptured near Fourth and Cummings Street, Cummingsburg after fleeing the hospital on foot around 6.20 PM Monday with his escort’s .38 service revolver.

According to reports reaching Demerara Waves Online News, the suspect allegedly broke into a Sophia home earlier in the day and was caught and beaten. He had been taken to the hospital to have his wounds tended.

While at the Accident and Emergency Unit the man reportedly said that he wanted to use the washroom and as he was being taken there a scuffle broke out between him and the rank during which time the police was disarmed.

The man was said to be without handcuffs at the time. A search was quickly launched in the surrounding areas leading to his recapture around 6.45 PM but not before the fateful shooting.

Eyewitnesses said a senior police officer, who was with Elias at the time, did not intervene in the scuffle between the detective and Abrams.

DemWaves understands that the suspect was taken to the hospital later in the night under heavy police guard.