Shot in the head but still alive

Sgt. Fitzroy Yearwood

Also in the city this morning, a young man was shot in the head on Prince Street.    Tyler Garbutt was reportedly going to visit his girlfriend when someone on a bicycle rode by and shot him in the back of the head.  The bullet exited through his face and Garbutt is receiving treatment at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital.  Police Press Officer, Fitzroy Yearwood, explained what happened.

Sgt. Fitzroy Yearwood, Police Press Officer

“Tyler Garbutt was walking on Prince Street and upon reaching at the corner of Prince and Albert Street he was accosted a lone gunman on bicycle who fired a single shot to the right back side of the head.  The bullet, according to doctors, after examining Garbutt, exited somewhere around this area [indicating under the eye] and Garbutt is in a critical but stable condition at the Karl Heusner Memorial.  Unfortunately Garbutt couldn’t identify his assailant because he was approached from behind. He is saying that he doesn’t recall having any enemies or any misunderstanding with anyone who would want to try to end his life.”

While the crime is grave, Garbutt’s situation is similar to that of Ahmad Nah, who was also shot in the head last month with a pellet gun and whose story shocked doctors and family members when he went home talking.  In Garbutt’s case, while the bullet entered the back of his head and exited his face under his left eye, he is said to be alert and talking.  The bullet has only caused swelling around the nose and did not cause damage to the brain.