Detectives from the British Virgin Islands have arrived in Anguilla to conduct an independent investigation into the police shooting in July that resulted in the death of a teenager.
Nineteen-year-old Shane Flemming died after being shot by police during a suspected armed robbery at Island Supermarket in White Hill sometime after 4.45pm on 7 July.
The Royal Anguilla Police Force said on 8 July that it had launched an investigation to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.
In a later statement on 10 July, police added that, in accordance with policy, investigators from the BVI had been invited to conduct their own review and would arrive “in the coming days”.
The officers from the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force finally arrived on Wednesday, 5 September – nearly two months later – according to an update on Thursday, 6 September.
The statement on Facebook added that, so far, the team have visited the scene of the incident and will remain in Anguilla “for a period of time” to conduct their review.
The visiting officers include Detective Chief Inspector Kenrick Davis, head of the Criminal Investigation Department, and Detective Sergeant Quacey Cooper of the Major Incident Team.
In response to inquiries from Anguilla Focus, a police spokesperson added that the police investigators were “delayed due to circumstances beyond their control”.
In terms of the progress of the investigations, they explained that an autopsy has taken place and police are awaiting the final report from the pathologist.
“At this point, we cannot say when the inquiry will be completed,” the spokesperson said, adding that senior management will confirm whether the findings will be made public.
“We can however assure that the family, through the family liaison officer, will be apprised as information becomes available,” they said.
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