Remanded Prisoner Shawn Peters, age 4o, was attacked and injured by four (04) prisoners in Holding Bay 1 at about 22:50 hours on August 17, 2020. Prisoner Peters who was admitted to prison on August 3, 2020 charged for the offence “Larceny of Articles” was held in the isolation unit and was transferred to the Holding Bay on the afternoon of August 17, 2020. There he was identified and subsequently attacked by four (04) other prisoners with whom he had had altercations outside the prison walls.
The Officer in Charge reported that Peters was seen by medical staff at Lusignan and referred to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation. There he was seen by Doctors on duty and admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). I am advised he remained there in a critical condition and died at 10:45 hours on August 18, 2020.
Review of the CCTV footage from the location and as well as other CCTV footage obtained allowed the Administration to positively identify the perpetrators of the fatal incident.
A partial search of the Prison by Prison Officers unearthed the improvised weapons used in the stabbing and chopping, additional improvised weapons (111), and cellular phones (09). Improvised weapons are materials/items which have been converted by the prisoners into weapons for the sole purpose of maiming and threatening Officers and fellow prisoners.
The Guyana Police Force has been fully informed of the incident. The investigation is ongoing.
Gladwin Samuels, DSM
Director of Prisons