by Linda Straker
- Jamol Charles was shot in his leg by the police at his home, on Sunday, 5 July 2020
- Police were in search of his brother
- The community is protesting and calling for justice for the young footballer
Police have confirmed that an investigation has started into the shooting of Jamol Charles at his home in the town of Gouyave, St John, on Sunday, 5 July 2020.
An official statement is yet to be released by the police about the incident, but videos circulating on social media platform WhatsApp claim that the police did not seek immediate medical assistance for the young man who is a known footballer.
Reports are that he was shot in his leg and initially was taken to the Gouyave Health Centre, and then taken to the General Hospital in the St George’s where is he currently admitted.
It is understood that police were in search of his brother.
As news spread of the shooting, people in the community protested and called for justice for the young footballer. In videos circulating live on Facebook, people are seen blocking the road and setting fires in the streets of Gouyave.
I just pray Grenada does not destroy their own country like they are doing in America.
If it was not for social media people abroad would not hear what is going on in the real life of Grenada, yes it is the most beautiful country and yes in this day and age will we fall into issues, that is the reason why social media is imperative, as it should make the police understand that they cannot get away with silly things like not bringing him directly to the hospital.
Why did the police had to use a gun on someone while looking for another. Were their lives threatened by the mother and son? Was a weapon belonging to the family found at the victim’s home, and did he threaten the police with it, causing them to use deadly force? I can’t understand how this one-sided gunplay entered this picture.
It wasn’t social media first.
First was, the people heard a gunshot.
Second was, they heard a woman bawling.
Third was, they went to the scene of the bawling and realized that the son of the woman in travail was the victim of a police shooting.
Fourth was, they realized that the police had left the victim at the location of the shooting, and moved to their vehicle.
Fifth was, they carried the gunshot victim to the police vehicle and insisted that they take him to receive treatment.
Sixth was, they journeyed to the health center location, to ensure that the police were doing the right thing.
Seventh was, they had to protest strongly, to induce the police to allow the victim to be taken to hospital, because adequate personnel were not available at that facility, and that emergency couldn’t wait for a doctor to arrive.
Eighth is, without social media such atrocities are very likely to go unchecked.
Well here we go again social media first fact second
What will they do for something that really affects them directly
Grenada is a lovely little island so why every little thing finds it way on Social media first .
I am sure the answer is starrying me in the face.
@storm
So true, hear-say is always the leading story.
The way the plot thickens in the Fort jeudy saga i ain’t gonna believe nutten till it reach court
Let me try to answer that to best of my ability. We as a people try hard to draw parallels between Grenada and lets say the United States. I Use the US because 98% of the media and cultural effects are from that country. When folks watch issues that exists in America via US media outlets we try to make sense of events happening here using what is seen
on CNN FOX etc as a template, and try to draw parallels. Hence the reaction seen all over Social media!