NASSAU, BAHAMAS – The family of 21-year-old Shanton Forbes, who was allegedly gunned down by police on Monday night in Yellow Elder Gardens, is claiming that he was unarmed when he was shot and killed.
Brandiece Rolle, the sister of the deceased, told Eyewitness News Online that the police’s report about what led to her brother’s demise is false.
According to police reports, shortly before 10 p.m. on Monday night, officers responded to a call of an armed male in Yellow Elder Gardens.
Police said that upon arrival, they approached the suspect, however, they said that the victim shot at them.
Police also alleged that they recovered a 9mm pistol from the scene.
But yesterday, Forbes’ sister insisted that her relative was not armed and does not own a gun.
“So, where did that gun even come from,” the irate sister questioned. “He’s not even that kind of person. My brother is a very quiet person and he is a quiet soul, that’s bogus.”
Rolle, along with other family members explained to Eyewitness News Online that they were having a small family function in the yard on Monday when law enforcement showed up unexpectedly.
It is alleged that they then approached Forbes without appropriately identifying themselves.
Rolle further alleged that her brother walked off from police after being approached and without warning, police began to open fire on her brother, even after he was on the ground.
“Two officers were over him shooting while he was on the ground,” the sister alleged. “It’s very bad what they did to him.”
According to the aunt of the victim, there was as an altercation that transpired earlier that day [on Monday] which they believe prompted persons in the area to call officers.
The aunt also claimed that proper police protocol was not followed.
“I think they got a call from someone because he had a little confrontation with someone else in the yard because when police came they didn’t say ‘’freeze or we are the police’; they came looking for this specific person,” the aunt alleged.
“I wouldn’t have mind if they said, ‘we are the police, please stop.’ Nothing they said and we had little children in the yard.”
According to the family, there are CCTVs steps away from where the entire scene unfolded and the footage would not lie.
Family members said they are heartbroken by the death of their loved one allegedly at the hands of police, adding that Forbes did not deserve to die the way he did.
“My brother doesn’t get in no problems. He’s always home. When I went looking for my brother on Monday, he wasn’t there and he’s always home. He’s not even that type of person to have a gun,” said Jasmine Rolle, the victim’s younger sister.
“And the fact that they cornered him is disturbing. The only gun he could’ve had was his finger because where he was going to get it from?”
Attempts to reach police for comment on the claims made by the family up to post time last night proved futile. However, any complaint against police can be made to the Complaints and Corruption Unit of the Royal Bahamas Police Force.
It is expected that the matter will go before Her Majesty’s Coroner for further investigation.
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This article was written by Matthew Moxey – Eyewitness News Online Intern
