Police shooting victim, Steven Buckley, back from throes of death

Inspector Dennis Lopez was charged for Buckley’s shooting, more than a month after that fateful night in April.  The thirty-seven year old construction worker was comatose for a week before he finally regained consciousness. The Police Department accepted that one of its own was responsible and offered to help with Buckley’s medical bills, household expenses for the family; but that assistance has not been forthcoming. News Five’s Marion Ali visited with him today at his house on George Street and files this report.

Marion Ali, Reporting

Since the night of the shooting, April twenty eighth, Steven Buckley has been put to the test, both physically and financially.  One of the bullets entered his forehead and exited the back of his head.  The other one is still lodged in his head and the injuries have left him unable to walk and his movement is significantly restrained.

Steven Buckley, Shot by Police Officer

“Dehn cut eena mi head dah back yah and thing and tek out di clot blood and thing from out ah mi head; fix me up.”

Marion Ali

“Did they explain to you what damage the bullet did?”

Steven Buckley

“Di doctor dehn seh day how bwai yoh really get shot bad.  Mi right hand hambug up. I noh really got mi right hand dat good; ih mess up still yet. I have to tek di next hand and hold it up and move it round. Just like how I tek mi right foot and deal wid it dah di same weh I have to do wid mi right hand.  When ah want go dah toilet, mi gial have to help mi and ker mi deh or ah have to use di pampers. When time I want urine and thing I have to use di pampers and thing.”

With the school year just about finished for 2010, Buckley and his common-law wife, Juanita Juarez, have been finding it hard to get by, much less meet their children’s registration fees for the next school year.  They are both upset that the police department has not lived up to their word.

Steven Buckley

“Ah got friends and thing weh come and give me wah lee hands out.”

Marion Ali

“So the police haven’t helped you since?”

Steven Buckley

“Noh really; one time dehn bring wah lee stack ah grocery and dehn noh come back again at all from den.”

Marion Ali

“What have they told you?”

Steven Buckley

“Dehn seh wah bring wah lee grocery fi wi and dehn noh bring it at all.”

Marion Ali

“Have they made any kind of commitment that they will stand any kind of expenses or help you through this?”

Steven Buckley

“Dehn seh dehn wah deal wid it but dehn noh help we at all. Dehn abstract we.”

Juanita Juarez, Common-Law-Wife, Steven Buckley

“I’m behind paying my bills, I owe a month for light, water, house rent. Thanks to mi good landlord ih noh really rush me, hurry me. She give me time because she know I’m in this situation.”

Buckley was with his boss and friend, Marlon Myers, the night he was shot and Myers says he believes it was no accident.

Marlon Myers, Steven Buckley’s boss

“They told us to stop, shut down the engine, out the lights. I did as they told us and upon me opening my door, two shots were fired. My left hand was already outside the window. Two shots fired and it was then Steven said he got shot in his head.”

Marion Ali

“Okay, the police is claiming that it was an accident.”

Marlon Myers

“I have no idea about that. Two shots could have never been an accident. Two shots were fired, that could never be an accident.”

Marion Ali

“How far apart were those shots?”

Marlon Myers

“Seconds. LUM LUM! Twice.”

Steven Buckley

“Di police vehicle stop front ah me and my friend and dehn stop we and tell we unu come out. When time we di come out, dehn end up di shoot di shot afta we. BAM! BAM! Two shots. So di same way when I get di two shot I seh Marlon ah get shot mein. Please help me dog, I get shot dog, I get shot. Help me out.”

Buckley spent close to a month in the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, and went from critical to fair condition until he was fit for release.  And now that he has been, he still has hopes of one day returning to work. Marion Ali for News Five.

Buckley says two attorneys, Dickie Bradley and Anthony Sylvestre are helping him with a legal suit against the Police Department for the shooting and the treatment, or lack thereof from the department since the incident.