A mentally-ill man is shot and killed by PG police

Ernel Dominguez

Punta Gorda police are tonight investigating the shooting death of a Big Falls resident at the hands of one of their own.  Police claim that Moses Williams, a mentally ill patient, was reportedly throwing a fit at home when police were called to the residence.  When they responded the officers came under attack by Williams who was wielding a machete.  Despite firing several warning shots, Williams advanced on the men chopping one of the officers on the left hand.  Another shot was fired, this time hitting the young man in the left leg.  The fatal injury, however, did not immediately slow down their attacker, says the police.  Instead, Williams managed to wrest a twelve gauge shotgun from one of the officers.  Both men then took cover and when they reemerged, they observed Williams lying on the firearm bleeding profusely.  When backup arrived at the village, Williams was transported to the Punta Gorda Hospital where he succumbed to the injury.  News Five spoke with Inspector Ernel Dominguez, who says that they are investigating the incident.

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Via Phone: Inspector Ernel Dominguez, O.C., Punta Gorda Police

“On Monday, February seventeenth, 2014 at about seven-forty a.m. information was received by the Punta Gorda Town Police of a shooting incident in Big Falls Village, Toledo District. As a result of this information, officers left the Punta Gorda Town Police station where upon arrival at Big Falls at the residence of one Moses Williams who was known to be a mental patient. He was apparently shot which was later learnt that an altercation ensued between the police officer from San Pedro Columbia which is a nearby village and the special constable from Big Falls. During that altercation, Moses Williams was shot to his leg after the police made efforts to disarm him, which at the time he had a machete in his possession to the fact that one of the officers that were present received chopped wounds as a result of trying to disarm Williams. Both officers present were engaged in the altercations where upon the officer that was assigned to the Columbia Police Station fired a warning shot. This does not stop Williams from advancing towards them and as a result one of the officers who was a special constable fell to the ground and Williams made attempts to chop him for a second time. However, a warning shot was fired by the police officer. Williams continued to advance and the officer then fired a single shot in the area of…between Williams’ two legs, just above his knee where his left leg was more severe in terms of the injury. He then advanced, even though his leg was injured, at the officer who had the shotgun in his position. The officer fell and Williams gained control of the shotgun. He then advanced and the officer managed to get out of his way and both personnel that were present managed to escape by hiding behind an unfixed structure bathroom that was in the area or on the property. A while after, the officer that was not injured managed to have reached the area where Williams was where he found him lying on the pump action shotgun. He realized that he was unconscious. By this time, they had already called for help from the Punta Gorda Town Police Station which later arrived and managed to put Williams in the vehicle and escorted him to the Punta Gorda Town Hospital where he was receiving treatment during which he succumbed to his injuries. The other officer was taken to the polyclinic and then transferred to the Punt Gorda Town Hospital where he was later transferred to Southern Regional where he is undergoing treatment for injuries caused to both hand. However, his left hand was mostly affected by having four fingers receiving chop wounds. Police investigation continues into this matter. As a matter of fact, I must say that the weapon used in the incident was retrieved by the police.”