Cop found unconscious on Mandela Ave succumbs
-President calls for inquiry
Police Constable #2045 Winston Cooper who was discovered lying on Mandela Avenue more than a month ago with serious wounds to his head succumbed at a city hospital yesterday and President David Granger has since called for an inquiry into his death.
Stabroek News was reliably informed that Cooper, who was a Presidential Guard and resided at Lot 761 East Ruimveldt, Georgetown died at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) early yesterday morning.
He reportedly succumbed shortly after relatives rushed him to the hospital after noticing that he was experiencing problems breathing.
The police had said that Cooper was rushed to the hospital on July 1 after he was discovered lying in an unconscious condition opposite the National Gymnasium around 5.30 am by first responders of the Guyana Fire Service.
He spent approximately three weeks in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), where he remained unconscious and was later transferred to the High Dependency Unit (HDU) before being discharged on August 6th.
Earlier this week, a relative of Cooper had told Stabroek News that he was at home recuperating.
President David Granger yesterday morning visited Cooper’s East Ruimveldt home where he met and interacted with several family members including his mother Loraine Peters.
He was accompanied by Commissioner of Police (ag) Nigel Hoppie.
The Ministry of the Presidency in a press statement said that during the visit, the President tasked the acting Commissioner to conduct an investigation to determine how Cooper met his demise.
“As you know, he’s a member of the Presidential Guard… What I will ask the Commissioner to do is to conduct an inquiry to find out how [this incident] could have happened,” the Head of State said, according to the statement.
Stabroek News had previously reported that investigators were trying to determine what caused Cooper to sustain the wounds to his head.
Investigators had obtained surveillance footage from around the area which they were trying to enhance. However, the outcome of this remains unknown.
Cooper’s aunt had previously related to this newspaper that she believed that he was attacked by a gang while on his way to work.
She had said that her conclusion was made based on a doctor’s reports and the injuries her nephew sustained.
When this newspaper visited the dead man’s home yesterday, his mother declined to speak on his death.