In an incident that has sparked official scrutiny in Guyana, a serving detective sergeant with the Guyana Police Force has been taken into close custody following a shooting that left a local gold miner injured on Sunday afternoon, law enforcement officials confirmed in a public statement released Monday. The update, first published by Demerara Waves Online News on April 13, 2026, details a sudden confrontation that unfolded just after 5 p.m. local time at Chanta Creek, located along the Soesdyke-Linden Highway.
According to official police accounts, the off-duty detective was visiting the popular creek-side location with members of his family when a verbal misunderstanding escalated into physical conflict. Multiple men involved in the dispute attacked the officer, with at least one assailant wielding a cutlass — a large, sharp machete-style blade common in the region. Facing the ongoing assault, the detective drew his service-issued 9mm pistol and fired a single round toward the group.
The bullet struck a 37-year-old gold miner who resides in the nearby Yarrowkabra Creek community, hitting him in the right leg. Emergency response efforts began immediately after the confrontation: the injured miner was located by his relatives, who coordinated with arriving police officers to transport him quickly to Mackenzie Hospital for urgent medical care. As of the latest official update, the miner remains admitted for treatment and is listed in stable condition, with no immediate threat to his life.
In line with standard police protocol for on and off-duty officer-involved shootings, the detective has been placed under close arrest pending a full, transparent investigation into the circumstances of the confrontation. Authorities have not yet released additional details about whether any other charges will be filed, or when the investigation is expected to be concluded. The incident comes as Guyana continues to grapple with public scrutiny of police use of force, alongside ongoing industry activity in the country’s artisanal gold mining sector.