A 16 year old says he feels lucky to be alive after he was beaten in the face with a gun that accidentally discharged, grazing his chin and coming within centimetres of taking his life. But what’s worse is that it was a police officer who allegedly pistol whipped 16 year old Joshua Nelson. He and his family told us their side of the story morning.
Keith Swift Reporting,
This blood on 16 year old Joshua Nelson’s chin marks the spot where a bullet grazed him – a bullet which he says came from a police man’s gun. It happened this morning near Nelson’s home at the corner of Oleandar and Mahogany Streets. Joshua and his cousin Austin Rowland were arguing.
Joshua Nelson, Pistol Whipped
“Me and my cousin were having a little problem and the police man came from across the street. I told him nothing happened and he hauled out his gun and knocked me in my face and his gun dropped on the gun. He picked it up and hurry picked up the expended shell. When he knocked me, the gun bust off and a bullet ‘bunazz’ (grazed) my chin and the gun dropped on the gun and he hurry picked up the expended shell and he run.”
Austin Rowland, Joshua’s Cousin
“What happened this morning was pure nonsense because the police should
have come in a better way to come talk to we. But he came in a hype up way and he didn’t asked what happened or what went on. My cousin just told him not to deal with us and he just pulled out the gun, knocked at him the first time, missed, put one in the head, like he forgot he put one in the head, knocked him with it again and at that time the bust off, ‘bunazz’ him underneath the chin. So many school children were passing at that moment and they could have gotten hurt too. So what went on this morning is ‘lone fool with the police.”
Concerned Parent,
“I approached with my daughters, taking them to school on my normal route, every morning I take them to school, as I got by there I saw the argument. I saw this officer pulled out his gun and cranked it and told this little boy that he would shoot him. I saw him step back and then he turned around and slapped the young boy in his face. The bullet went off, his clip dropped out and fell on the street, and I felt plain how that bullet passed between me and my daughter. If that had catch one of my daughters, they wouldn’t have told me they are sorry because that wouldn’t bring back my daughter or nothing. My daughters went to school this morning crying, frightened, and trembling.”
And Joshua’s mother Beverly Patterson is trembling, with rage. She says she’s simply had enough.
Beverly Patterson, Mother
“Of course I am upset because the gun could have gone right in his throat and then what would they have hollered, ‘sorry.’ They should be lucky I changed. I am tired of them chancing my children. I want them to do something to it, I want them to leave alone my children because the last time they had him up, saying he was the watchman for the bomb and the little boy was all the way in Belmopan. He hadn’t even come back in the city in the night. So I just want them to leave my children because I don’t go and cuss them or nothing. When I go there I go there with manners. I upstart but I don’t cuss them.”
The family says they plan to file a report with the police internal affairs desk. Department Press Officer Clemente Palacio had no comment but said the department is investigating.
