A mentally ill man is currently undergoing surgery at the San Fernando General Hospital after being shot by police at Friendship Village, San Fernando.
The man has been identified as Roger Nagassar, also known as 'Bubbles,' who was said to be an outpatient of the St Ann’s Hospital.
According to a police report, members of the Ste Madeleine police and the Rapid Response Unit responded to a call from residents that the man was walking in the road with a cutlass. When officers arrived, they met the man in the road with the cutlass.
In video footage taken by neighbours, which was shared on social media, the officers can be heard asking the man to put the cutlass down. A man was also heard saying, "like they want to execute mih son." But the police were again heard telling the man to drop the blade.
However, the man began walking toward the officers and was shot. Six shots were heard but officers said he was struck in the leg and chest. He was taken to the hospital where he was warded in a stable condition.
The neighbours heard in the video were clearly traumatised and could be heard screaming and crying.