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Espinola to conduct autopsy on Suell
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Posted on Dec 15 2005
An autopsy will be conducted this morning on Donald Suell, a man who was fatally shot by a police officer during a fight in Gualo Rai, the Department of Public Safety disclosed yesterday.
DPS spokesman Eric David said Guam chief medical examiner Dr. Aurelio Espinola will make the autopsy to determine Suell’s cause of death.
David said the autopsy results are important for the investigators to complete their investigation.
The DPS Criminal Investigation Bureau, the Internal Affairs, and the Attorney General’s Investigative Unit, are working closely to establish whether the shooting of Suell was justified, David said.
Police Officer 1 Andrew Santos, the officer who shot Suell twice on the chest with a .9mm pistol, is on administrative leave and now undergoing emotion counseling at the Community Guidance Center, the spokesman said.
David said Santos will also be subjected to drug test.
The DPS spokesman said the counseling and drug test are part of the department’s standard operating procedures whenever a police officer kills somebody while on duty.
Members of the DPS’ elite Tactical Response Enforcement Team are still posted near the house of the Rangamar family’s residence where the shooting happened.
DPS activated the TRET to prevent another fight between the families involved.
Police said Suell alias Orin Tagabuel beat up and assaulted Ernest Rangamar and his father Rafael Rangamar with a piece of lumber after a drinking session on Sunday night.
Ernest Rangamar was unconscious on the ground when police officers arrived, a detective said.
Santos shot Suell when the latter reportedly tried to attack the officer with a 2”x4” piece of lumber during the commotion.
