Man shot by Police on Thursday is reported to have had a long history of violence and mental illness

The young man who was shot by the Police on Thursday, August 31
– in full view of the public – allegedly has been experiencing mental-
health issues for some time and was once a patient at the Clarevue
Psychiatric Hospital.

Sources say he was discharged after the reported intervention of a
close relative.

According to reports, it was only four days ago that Rashawn
“Turtle” Shabazz was released from His Majesty’s Prison. There, he
had been in solitary confinement due to his condition and perceived
violent tendencies.

Thursday’s altercation with the Police allegedly began in the Perry
Bay area where, reports say, he was being a nuisance. Allegedly,
Shabazz was armed with a long knife and was picking up stones and
pelting them at individuals.

Apparently, the Police were called to defuse the situation. But when
Shabazz reportedly became confrontational, he was shot – initially
with rubber bullets – to subdue him.

However, this did not take him down, and the altercation continued
onto the Valley Road, in the vicinity of the service station and the
Central Marketing Corporation. There, Shabazz was seen picking up
a stone, which he pelted at one officer, striking him in the head.
In a widely circulated video, the policeman can be seen drawing his
weapon and discharging three shots in response.

Shabazz was hit – how many times is not clear, however. But
evidence of his injuries was visible on his shirt, where blood could
be seen in the lower back and abdominal area.   
 
Sources tell REAL News that, after being taken into custody, Shabazz
underwent surgery, allegedly losing a kidney to damage by a bullet.
 
People are now asking why the young man – who is known to have
mental-health issues – was released from prison in that fashion,
instead of having him admitted to the Clarevue Psychiatric Hospital
for treatment.

This did not happen because a relative of the young man reportedly
had been untruthful about a number of officials, including those at
the psychiatric hospital and now-suspended Chief Magistrate Joanne
Walsh.
 
Reports claim that, earlier, Shabazz’ relatives had sought the
assistance of a government official in having him discharged from
the hospital, claiming they were sending the young man to
Dominica. However, reportedly, he never left this country.

Shabazz has been in trouble with the law over several years,
allegedly since he was a teenager, and has been in and out of prison.
 

Sources claim he was involved in a number of incidents at the penal
institution – including the April 2021 stabbing of a prison officer
with a makeshift weapon, multiple times, seriously injuring him.
In that instance, Shabazz reportedly was charged with unlawful and
malicious wounding.
 
On another occasion, Shabazz reportedly made attempts to escape
from prison by jumping the 30-foot wall; but he was immediately
recaptured.
 

Now, sources say that a relative is claiming that society has failed
the young man.
 
The Police have promised, but are yet to issue a statement on
Thursday’s shooting incident.