Stephen Buckley partially paralyzed after police shooting
stephen buckley
Stephen Buckley’s shooting has stirred outrage in the community. Police maintain that the shooting was accidental, but persons who witnessed the shooting attest that the trigger was pulled by the police officer. Buckley was injured on the face, was left paralyzed and continues receiving treatment at the K.H.M.H. News Five Delahnie Bain spoke to family members today for an update on Buckley’s condition.
Delahnie Bain, Reporting
Since he was shot on the night of April twenty-eighth, Steven Buckley remains hospitalized. Buckley is now paralyzed on the left side, but according to family members, he is slowly improving.
Julie Thurton, Sister of Stephen Buckley
“So far ih di come round just dat di right side, dis side is already dead. Ih noh di move ih hand, not even well—ih can’t even si through ih eye because ih eye damage. Ih noh di move ih foot, no part ah ih right side ih noh di move.”
Delahnie Bain
“Is he awake? Is he responding to you all?”
Julie Thurton
julie thurton
“Well, yeah. Ih neva talk to me but I understand ih talk to ih wife. But right now dehn have a di sleep right now. But ih noh deh pan—di only thing ih deh pan dah di heart machine cause di breathing machine ih noh deh pan anymore.”
While signs of recovery bring hope to Buckley’s family, the issue of whether the shooting was an accident still lingers and is now compounded by medical expenses.
Julie Thurton
“If it was an accident it would have only been one shot and so far it is two shot so I noh really think dah wah accident.”
Delahnie Bain
“And how is family handling this whole situation?”
Julie Thurton
“Well, right now di police seh dat ih wah try help because right now we need blood, we need five pint ah blood. And dat dah from Friday dehn di ask bout di blood and we noh get it up to now and ih have to be A negative or O negative. We could barely get di money right now, di police dehn seh dat dehn wah help ah wid di medical bills but so far we noh get nothing up to now.”
Anyone wishing to assist Buckley by either donating blood or assisting the family financially can reach Julie at 631-3442. Delahnie Bain for News Five.
its sad…his life has changed forever!
As I said before on this matter, its very sad and unfortunate. On a second note, this could have been prevented if the police had been better trained to deal with a situation such as how to protect themselves when face with particular approach of a potentially dangerous suspect. Since it seem that the shots were fired facing the front of the suspect vehicle, that in itself show poor tactical execution. Because the officer allowed himself to have been clear in the line of fire had it bee a real shoot out, the officer acted first since he thought he had the right vehicle that was involve in a previous shooting.
What the officer should have done, was to pull over the suspected vehicle from the rear. The officer should have exit his vehicle and take cover behind his vehicle while he gave instruction to the occupant of the suspected vehicle to come out of the vehicle with both hands in clear view. If the suspect came out shooting they would have to turn around to commence shooting, the officers would then be able to take cover behind their vehicle and give them some advantage as they return fire. In that split second the officer would have the advsantage. There never will be the perfect performance when it come to policing but we sure have a long way to go.
it is so sad. The police department is corrupt all the way from the head and runs right own so whenever something happens they cover it up because they know that they can be opened. i really think that justice needs to be brought about and very soon or else that shooting will just evaporate into the air . Trust me the police department is corrupted the Minister needs to do his job or quit and give his position to somebody else