Protests Escalate in Wismar Following Fatal Police Shooting of 21-Y-O
April 8, 2025- Tensions flared in Wismar on Tuesday as residents took to the streets, burning tyres and blocking the main road at Half Mile in protest of the fatal police shooting of 21-year-old Ronaldo Peters.
The demonstrations have since spread to other areas within the Wismar community.
Peters succumbed to a gunshot wound at the Mackenzie Hospital on Monday, April 7, shortly after he was shot in the abdomen during a police operation. Eyewitnesses and sources indicate that he appeared to have been shot at close range.
CCTV footage captured the moment Peters fled from police officers as they approached Shabba Bar in One Mile, Wismar. The video also shows a police sergeant pursuing and later dragging Peters—who was visibly wounded—away from the scene.
According to a statement released by the Guyana Police Force, Peters was wanted for questioning in relation to an alleged rape of a child under 16, said to have occurred between December 1, 2024, and January 31, 2025.
Police reported that the operation was launched around 4:30 P.M. on Monday after the Wismar Police Station received information that Peters was at the bar.
A team of officers, including the sergeant who fired the shot, went to the location. The sergeant was armed with a 9mm service pistol, while another rank carried a .38 revolver.
Both were reportedly in uniform, though CCTV footage appears to contradict this, showing that some officers—including the alleged shooter—were not in full uniform.
The official police report claims that Peters attempted to escape by jumping a fence. The sergeant alleges that he pulled Peters from the fence and, in the process of subduing him, his service weapon discharged, striking Peters.
Peters was rushed to the Mackenzie Hospital but died while receiving treatment. A medical examination revealed a single circular wound on the lower right side of his abdomen.
The police sergeant involved is currently under close arrest and has been transferred to the Tactical Services Unit (TSU). The Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) has launched an investigation into the incident.
Meanwhile, community members continue to call for justice as protests intensify across Wismar.
