Cop guns down soldier at birthday bash

Keverne Daffort Miller -
Keverne Daffort Miller -

Lance Cpl Keverne Daffort Miller went to his parents’ home at Reservoir Hill Point Fortin early on Friday morning after learning about a commotion involving a group of people, mainly police and soldiers.

Minutes later, Miller, 43, who lived less than ten minutes’ drive away at Lake View, was shot and killed in his parents’ yard.

A constable who works with the Guard and Emergency Branch has been detained at the Point Fortin police station.

The group was at the house on Thursday night into Friday morning to celebrate Miller’s son's birthday. The son, 24, who lives at the house, is a police constable based in the Central Division.

Miller’s grieving father, Daffort Miller, 73, said the drama began when one of the men sprayed pepper spray at a woman during a quarrel. The fumes made Daffort vomit.

Miller was not at the birthday get-together. Shortly after 2 am, someone called him to get the group out of the yard. His father said Miller came on his motorbike, wearing a helmet.

Miller, he said, walked up to the group and said, “You know how I stupid – leave my mother yard.”

Daffort said, “He turned around to leave, and I was telling him to forget them people. The helmet was on his head and like he was not hearing me.”

Daffort recalled hearing four gunshots.

“I ducked down and like I get stupid. My son was on the ground. To me, he was already dead. I will never forget that image.

"Only then I realised he (the shooter) was a policeman. No one was in uniform.

He said the policeman was asking, "Where is the gun? I want the gun.’

"I was there, and I did not see my son with any gun.”

Miller was taken to the Point Fortin Area Hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead shortly before 4 am. No one else was injured.

Police are also investigating unconfirmed reports that the constable saw Miller brandishing a gun, became fearful for his life and others, and then shot him.

The bereaved father blasted claims that his son had a gun.

“So how come he got shot four times in his back?

The house at which Lance Cpl Keverne Miller was shot and killed by an off-duty police officer at Miller’s son’s birthday party on Thursday. - Lincoln Holder

"I am old, but I am not stupid. He did not have any gun. Four of the policemen had guns,” Daffort said.

Point Fortin MP Kennedy Richards Jr, the mayor and deputy mayor and other council members visited the family. Leslie Pascall, the councillor for New Village/Cap de Ville/Reservoir Hill, told reporters that from what he heard, it was a casual get-together.

But, he added, "It is said the event was getting out of hand and someone from the area called Miller to tell him about what was taking place.

“We are hearing all sorts of stories. It is just a sad thing to stomach right now. It is really unfortunate,” Pascall said. “It is sad to know that (with) the people who we entrust in protecting and serving us, things like this happen, especially during covid.”

A man who identified himself only as Denno said Miller was a close friend.

“He was a militant servant to the community.

"Someone alerted him that something was going on at his parents' home and he came to the recue. He is a peacemaker in the community,” Denno said. “He was not drunk or anything like that.

"Miller was an inspiration to me.”

He too denounced claims that Miller had a gun.

“If the story about Miller flashing a gun is true, he (the detained policeman) should have identified himself. He did not do that.

"Miller came to make peace. No one can talk bad about Miller,” Denno said.

ON the pepper spray incident, he said a soldier was attacked and used it to defend himself.

Miller, a member of the regiment, was last posted at the La Romaine camp.

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"Cop guns down soldier at birthday bash"

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