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UPDATE: Hernandez had no gun, but knife- Senior Police & NSC sources
Our newsroom can now confirm from multiple senior police sources, as well as information obtained from the National Security Council (NSC), that Mr Hernandez did not have a gun in his possession at the time he was shot by police.
In fact, he had a knife. This was also confirmed by family members. The type or size of the knife is unknown at this time. Police Commissioner Michael B. Mathews had told our newsroom that “armed officers were confronted with a violent escaped prisoner from HMP….during the confrontation a police officer shot and wounded the suspect.”
Mr Mathews, who is now on vacation, stopped short of saying what made the escaped prisoner “violent” and dodged the Hernandez gun possession question earlier this week when pressed by our newsroom, as he said he did not want any public statement to compromise the investigation.
Two shots pumped in Hernandez by police
Our other sources told our newsroom that Mr Hernandez was shot two times by police, in the upper abdomen and left leg. When the now deceased prisoner was caught it was in an abandoned house in the Butu Mountain area of Tortola and Mr Hernandez was reportedly well kept and had food in the house.
Mr Hernandez, who had only a knife at the time of his shooting, was described by the CoP as posing a risk to “officers and the public safety.” Furthermore, Mr Mathews told our newsroom in an exclusive interview that “safety is always the overriding factor in any decision to deploy our armed assets.”
Police top cop Mathews announced that he has requested investigative support from the Turks and Caicos Islands Police to ensure an “independent and impartial investigation” into the shooting of the civilian by police.
Cover up?
However, a check today December 9, 2017 confirmed that no one has arrived on Tortola as yet to conduct the investigation, but a small team is expected to arrive by next week.
“There is no attempt to cover-up anything,” said a high ranking male police Inspector, speaking to us moments ago on condition of anonymity.
Mr Hernandez died on December 7, 2017 at Peebles Hospital following the shooting which was done by police from the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force, and not any of the visiting overseas officers.
The dead man was accused of the murder of Alston E. Penn of East End and was waiting to face trial.
The Dominican Republic national was one of three prisoners on the run following the prison break after Hurricane Irma had compromised Her Mastery’s Prison at Balsam Ghut. The Category 5 Hurricane inflicted havoc on the Territory on September 6, 2017.
See previous article published December 6, 2017
Shot prisoner was armed with a gun- Senior police source
More details are emerging in relation to the confrontation between officers of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) and prisoner on the run for some three months, Santo Yamarco Hernandez.
Mr Hernandez was among some 143 prisoners that escaped from Her Majesty’s Prison at Balsam Ghut after Hurricane Irma wreaked havoc on the facility, destroying major portions of its roof and fence.
All the prisoners were recaptured or turned themselves in except three, including Dominican Republic national Mr Hernandez who is accused but not convicted of the murder of Alston E. Penn, who was found in a pool of blood early this year at Windy Hill, Tortola.
Police confirmed our newsroom's story about the shooting early this morning in Butu Mountain, on the main island of Tortola. Now as more details are unearthed, it turns out that the fugitive was armed with a gun and was deemed a threat to police officers.
He was violent- CoP Mathews
Speaking earlier today December 6, 2017 from Miami Florida, USA where he is attending a police conference, Commissioner of Police (CoP) Michael B. Mathews told our newsroom in an exclusive interview that his officers “were confronted with a violent escaped prisoner from HMP…during the confrontation a police officer shot and wounded the suspect who is now under police guard at Peebles Hospital.”
The Commissioner declined to give details on how many shots were fired, the type of gun used or why the officers did not 'shoot to kill', if it was a violent confrontation as he described it.
He also stopped short of stating whether Hernandez had a gun or any other weapon; however, a senior police source disclosed to our newsroom that the fugitive was in possesion of a firearm.
Mr Mathews stated, “it is always regrettable when the force has to use an armed response- it is sometimes necessary for the safety of the public and the officer in the situation”. The popular Commissioner said, “safety is always the overriding factor in any decision to deploy our armed assets.”
Use of Firearm by police to be investigated independent of RVIPF
In a welcomed move in keeping with transparency and policing best practice, Mr Mathews also told our newsroom that he has requested assistance from the Commissioner of Police of the Turks and Caicos Islands to provide investigative support on the use of arms by his officers.
The CoP said this is to ensure an independent and impartial investigation is conducted into this shooting. While he said an investigation after police have used their weapons is normal, he wanted to ensure, “impartiality and transparency.”
The top cop confirmed that the firearm was discharged by an officer from the local constabulary and not one of the visiting police officers. Mr Matthews; however, stopped short of revealing any more information as to the name of the officer, type of gun used by the police to shot Hernandez, the type of gun the suspect was allegedly in possession of and when the investigation will commence.
It also remains unclear why, if Mr Hernandez was armed, the police did not ‘shoot to kill’ as the situation could have resulted in the death of police officers. There is also conflicting information whether the other two prisoners on the run- Jose Almestica and Kareem Hodge- are armed and dangerous. Minister for Education and Culture Hon Myron V. Walwyn (AL), who shares responsibility for Prison Services, told the public during a press conference on September 22, 2017 that the prisoners at large were “low-risk prisoners and I take this opportunity again to ask them to turn themselves in,” Hon Walwyn had stated.
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40 Responses to “UPDATE: Hernandez had no gun, but knife- Senior Police & NSC sources”
An 11 year old girl is dead, is this at all related?
with the intensity of a maelstrom. Now he has to appease his "handlers" as he's a "company man" so he suddenly knows about investigations. By now the other escaped prisoners,the scooter shooters, other terrorists and last but not least corrupted politicians would've been brought to justice had he been zealous at his job. Mr Michael B. Matthews a piece of free advice,do the duty that are being paid to do with aplomb please and stop being a puppet. Note,I won't plead of you patriotism,because you seem to have no zealous loyalty to anything of substance.
A knife is RIGHTFULY considered a DEADLY weapon by law and the officer has a right to use force adequate enough to stop someone threatening them or anyone else with a knife. Sooo..... since police are not trained to use knives and pepper spray and tasers are no match for someone with a knife the man had to be shot.
Sorry it turned out to be fatal but that's the price you pay for your actions.