At the top of our newscast, you heard the family of Lionel Sampson give their side of the story about his shooting. But the police say they not only have strong evidence that indeed twenty one year old Lionel Sampson was armed but that he has confirmed Cpl. Sanchez’s accounts of the event when he was interviewed by investigators at the KHMH. Today the head of Eastern Division and Assistant Commissioner of Police Allen Whylie told 7NEWS that while the shooting remains under investigation so far the evidence suggests that Corporal Sanchez had no choice but to fire his licensed nine millimeter pistol to protect his own life. This is because investigations have revealed that Lionel Sampson was armed with a point twenty two Iver Johnson Target revolver and pointed it at Corporal Sanchez.
Allen Whylie, Assistant Commissioner of Police
“The information we have is that sometime around 12:35 thereabout this morning he was in his private vehicle driving on Iguana Street Extension and ahead of him was a male person on a bicycle. And when he reached abreast of that person, I don’t know if he was too close to that person or what but that person it is alleged hollered at him. Because of that he lost focus when he was driving and he ran into a drain on the left hand side of the road. The person continued on his way.
About ten minutes thereabout after, whilst he was attempting to free his vehicle out of the drain, he saw the said male person return to the area. And that person reaching about 10 feet away from him, you see he placed his hand behind his back and he saw him take out a gun and pointed it in his direction. As a result Cpl. Sanchez took out his licensed 9 mm pistol and he started firing at this person.
The person upon being shot at, dropped his weapon and ran around the lane. Cpl. Sanchez pursued and he retrieved the gun the person had and he pursued the person and it is my understanding he was caught stooping down beside a motor vehicle that was parked on the adjacent street that links Iguana Street along with Raccoon Street I believe.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
When was this young man shot?
Allen Whylie,
“Obviously he was shot during the process of when Cpl. Sanchez started shooting at him but that was because a gun was pointed at Cpl. Sanchez. He recovered a.22 revolver containing 7.22 rounds of ammunition.
I expect that when there is any shooting of these nature, persons who are around will have different views. We are not ruling out what was said but we do know a firearm was recovered. And I can share with you that an interview the police did with that person at the hospital, that person verbally corroborated the police’s story.
So we need to understand that while person’s are out there having different views, Cpl. Sanchez along with this person at the time seem to be the persons who were around and on the street. We have spoken to some witnesses who say they heard the shots and peeped out and saw the Corporal firing. Of course he was firing because indeed he was threatened and indeed a firearm was recovered and immediately after the police went on the scene. He was found, he had the person in custody, he had the firearm in his custody, and they were all brought in.
In respect to the damages that occurred, I visited the area, I’ve spoken to Miss Castillo. I’ve also seen the vehicle. I have briefed the Commissioner of Police in respect to these issues and we will accept responsibility where we are at fault in terms of those damages. That issue will be forwarded to headquarters and we will be making the necessary compensation in terms of the refrigerator, to replace the refrigerator and in terms of the damage to the vehicle we will be doing that.
As I said it is a very difficult task we are faced with out there, when you look over the past few months the number of shootings that have occurred within Belize City and the number of shootings that are police related shootings. The police have exercised with great restraint, but of course if the police is under attack then they have all right legally to defend themselves.
I do know that when the police went there the Scenes of Crime persons went there, they did an initial search and they went back there this morning and I do know that three slugs were found in different locations. That is not unusual in the sense because we are working under limited conditions, poor lighting etc. So it is not unusual to visit a scene, do a search, and then go back in the morning quite early and you comb the area.
We have nothing to hide, we try to be as transparent as possible and that is the reason why we are here today.”
When asked why Lionel Sampson pointed his weapon at Corporal Gavin Sanchez, Whylie says he believes Sampson may have not known that he was being followed by a law enforcement officer and thinking that it was a gunman out to get him probably made the decision to return armed with a weapon. The point twenty two revolver had noserial number but had seven point twenty two live rounds. Corporal Sanchez’s licensed pistol contained one nine millimeter Lugar live round. Both weapons have been retrieved.
Once Sampson recovers he will be charged with the possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition and aggravated assault. Imprints found on the rounds in that gun may also result in another charge of attempted murder. Corporal Gavin Sanchez has not been interdicted from duty however the investigation continues.
