Resident shoots suspected burglar in Adam’s Lane
In crime news closer to home — much closer actually — several members of News Five’s staff were on the scene last night as three gunshots went off across the street from our studios. The next thing we knew a man with a gun appeared and asked us if we could please call the police.
The incident happened around six forty five on Thursday evening in Adam’s Lane, just off Regent Street. Forty-eight year old Anthony Reid was shot in both legs by area resident Abraham Valencia. Valencia told News Five that he heard noises in the yard in front of his house and went to investigate.
Abraham Valencia
“Soon as I came out to look through my back verandah I saw two guys doing burglary. I took the liberty to come around, down the alley and ask him what he was doing. We said well he’s taking these windows home. I told him this is not yours. I told him to drop it and he has to go to the police station. He tried to flee, I shot two warning shots in the air. He didn’t obey, one went to his foot and that was it.”
Q: “So the guy who got shot, you actually saw him in the house?”
Abraham Valencia
“Yes, both of them: one did obey, one didn’t so I shot him in the foot.”
That use of deadly means of force may or may not have been legally justified as it wasn’t Valencia’s home that was being burglarized. The police say an investigation will determine whether or not Valencia used excessive force. Also expected to come under close scrutiny by the police high command is whether or not C.I.B. officers handled the injured suspect properly.
Burglary Suspect
(screaming) “Let me go man; yuh handle di foot wrong, yuh no. The foot is broken. Mi foot di burn; you don’t understand.”
Up to news time no charges had been brought against Reid who remains hospitalized at the Karl Heusner Memorial. Police describe his condition as grievous. According to the head of the local C.I.B., Simeon Alvarez, the weapon used in last night’s shooting was a licensed nine-millimeter pistol. A second person detained by Valencia last night was released by police as it could not be proven that he was involved in the alleged burglary. Police continue to investigate both the burglary and shooting.
