The crowd around the scene of the shooting.
A former inmate was shot by a Bordelais Correctional (prison) officer by Constitution Park in Castries around 4 p.m. today.
Eyewitnesses alleged that the man was shot after he assaulted the prison officer.
One eyewitness told St. Lucia News Online: “I saw the guy push the officer three times…. He (prison officer) shot directly at the guy’s leg, close range. He held him to shoot him.”
Another eyewitness said the victim was behaving aggressively.
“He was only hitting the officer,” the source said.
A prison officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the victim is a former inmate who has a history with the shooter.
“That ex-inmate always harassed the officer whilst he was incarcerated at the (Bordelais) Facility,” the officer said in defense of his comrade.
The prisoner said the incident happened moments after they got off a Bordelais bus.
“After the incident, the ex-inmate was escorted to the hospital by the officer,” he said.