The Forward Guyana Movement (FGM), led by its co-founder and lone parliamentarian, attorney-at-law Amanza Walton-Desir, has called for a thorough and transparent investigation into the police shooting of 19-year-old Sophia resident Jukeem Scipio, arguing that justice in the case must extend beyond determining what occurred and include broader reforms within the Guyana Police Force.
In a statement issued on Friday, the political movement said it was “deeply disturbed” by reports surrounding the incident, which has left the teenager hospitalised with a bullet lodged near his spine.
“Tonight, a young Guyanese man lies in a hospital bed with a bullet lodged dangerously close to his spine. His family faces uncertainty, fear, and trauma, while a nation waits for answers,” the group stated. “We extend our prayers for Jukeem’s full recovery and stand in solidarity with his family during this difficult time.”
Scipio was reportedly shot by police ranks on Thursday, May 28, at about 9:00 a.m. at his home in Block ‘E’ Sophia, Greater Georgetown. Reports indicate that the 19-year-old was pursued to his residence and was shot in the abdomen during the encounter.
According to relatives, police later informed the family that the shooting may have been a case of mistaken identity.
“If this account is accurate, then a young man was shot in his own yard, in the presence of his mother, for reasons that remain unclear,” the movement said. “Such an incident cannot simply be dismissed as an unfortunate error. The consequences for Jukeem and his family may be lifelong.“
The organisation also highlighted allegations that after Scipio was wounded, police ranks entered the yard and placed a firearm to his head, prompting intervention from his mother.
“These allegations must be fully and independently examined,” the statement said. “The Guyanese people deserve a complete account of what transpired, why it transpired, and whether established procedures were followed at every stage.“
The Guyana Police Force has confirmed that its Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) has launched an investigation into the shooting. Police said ranks had received information that Scipio was wanted in connection with an alleged armed robbery and pursued him on a motorcycle before the shooting occurred. The force has also stated that the firearm used by the officer and a spent shell have been lodged as part of the investigation.
The shooting has renewed scrutiny of police conduct and use-of-force procedures in Guyana. In recent years, several police-involved shootings have sparked public debate and calls for greater accountability, particularly in cases where questions have arisen over operational decisions and the treatment of civilians.
The Forward Guyana Movement acknowledged that the rank involved has reportedly been placed under close arrest.
“These are necessary first steps. However, public confidence cannot be restored by announcements alone. Accountability must be thorough, transparent, and capable of commanding public trust,” the group stated.
Beyond the immediate circumstances of the shooting, the movement argued that the incident raises broader institutional concerns about policing standards and oversight.
“Every time a serious incident involving law enforcement occurs, the public is assured that an investigation is underway. Yet too often the deeper questions remain unanswered,” the statement said.
The group questioned whether officers are receiving adequate training to make sound decisions under pressure, whether intelligence-gathering and identification procedures are sufficiently robust, and whether use-of-force protocols are being consistently enforced.
“For too long, conversations about police misconduct have focused solely on the actions of individual officers while avoiding the larger institutional questions,” the movement said. “Accountability matters. But accountability alone is not enough. If deficiencies in training, supervision, operational procedures, or institutional culture are left unaddressed, then the conditions that give rise to these incidents remain unchanged.”
While stressing that the Guyana Police Force performs an essential and often difficult role and that the majority of officers serve honourably, the organisation said the importance of policing demands the highest standards of professionalism and restraint.
“It is precisely because policing is such an important public responsibility that the highest standards of professionalism, discipline, restraint, and respect for human life must be demanded and maintained,” the statement noted.
The movement maintained that achieving justice for Scipio requires not only establishing responsibility for the shooting but also ensuring that lessons are learned to prevent similar incidents.
“Justice for Jukeem Scipio therefore requires more than determining what happened on one afternoon in Sophia. It requires a commitment to learning from this incident and implementing whatever reforms are necessary to reduce the likelihood of such tragedies occurring in the future.”
The statement concluded with a call for accountability and public trust in state institutions.
“No mother should have to watch her child fighting for his life under these circumstances. No citizen should have to fear becoming the victim of a mistake by those entrusted with enforcing the law.”
The Forward Guyana Movement said it will continue to monitor the matter and support efforts aimed at securing “truth, accountability, justice, and meaningful reform.”
