12-member team arrives to investigate RVIPF killing of Hernandez
According to our National Security Council (NSC) sources, the deceased was shot two times by Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) officers, once in the upper abdomen and the other in the left leg. It remains unclear how many shots were fired and by how many police officers in the recapture efforts, but only two hit the 38 year old man.
Gun or knife?
There was also confusion over whether Mr Hernandez, one of three escaped prisoners who were still on the run after some 143 inmates broke out of Her Majesty’s Prison on Tortola following Hurricane Irma in September 2017, was armed with a gun.
At the time of his shooting, after police got a tip that Mr Hernandez was in an abandoned house at Butu Mountain on the main island of Tortola, Police Commissioner Michael B. Mathews had alleged “armed officers were confronted with a violent escaped prisoner.”
He stopped short of advising the public on the level of “violence” Hernandez, who was accused of the murder of Alston E. Penn earlier this year but was not tried or convicted, had demonstrated to police.
There were conflicting information, as one senior police source had told our newsroom that Mr Hernandez had a gun.
However, moments after our article was published alleging that he had a gun, family members and multiple law enforcement and NSC sources confirmed that our information was wrong and that the man shot by police only had a knife.
Review of deadly state shooting
Police top cop Mathews, who is reported to be on vacation in his home country, the United Kingdom, told our newsroom the same day of the deadly state shooting that “whist it is always regrettable when the force has to use an armed response, it is sometimes necessary for the safety of the public and the officers in the situation.”
On December 7, 2017, a day later, Mr Hernandez died even though police said he was in “stable condition at Peebles Hospital under police guard.”
On Monday December 11, 2017 some 12 police officers from the Royal Turks and Caicos Police Force arrived in the Virgin Islands to conduct the investigations.
Our newsroom checked this morning December 18, 2017 with our sources for an update; however, we were told that the investigation has not concluded and the Governor and the NSC have not been briefed on any preliminary findings.
Mr Mathews, who the public has demonstrated confidence and trust in thus far, has promised “transparency and an independent review” of the deadly use of force by his officers.
Caution on state killings- local Attorney
A local attorney, who spoke to our news room in an invited comment but didn't want her name to be used, said on this matter, that “while our heart goes out with continued sorrow to the Alston Penn family, remember Mr Hernandez was never tried or convicted for the crime he was accused of.”
She further stated, we have to be careful not to be so quick to condemn as “today it is Santo Hernandez, tomorrow it might be your child that they [police] shoot and kill.”
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35 Responses to “12-member team arrives to investigate RVIPF killing of Hernandez”
These officers are now being judged by the media and the bloggers the same set who would be criticizing them for not doing their jobs if this man was still on the loose. No one ever wonder the trauma the officers and their families may be going through.
I fear that this witch hunt may have officers who are called to the scene reluctant to take the necessary action or any action at all.
I support my local law enforcement and the job they do trying to keep us (many of whom take what they do for granted) safe.
Thank you RVIPF.