Nearly 10 months after a fatal shooting involving a patient at Respaldo, the Public Prosecutor’s Office has issued a summons for police officer Raynold Richardson. The incident took place on January 27, 2026, and the victim was reportedly experiencing a state of mental confusion at the time. The officer is suspected of manslaughter, and a preliminary court hearing is scheduled for November 26.
During the hearing, the defense will have an opportunity to submit additional requests for investigation. The judge will decide whether to approve those requests and set a date for the substantive hearing. The Public Prosecutor’s Office has already informed the victim’s family of its decision to prosecute the officer.
The incident occurred at approximately 3:30 p.m. on January 27, when police officers responded to a residence in Pos Abao. A man estimated to be between 35 and 40 years old had reportedly taken out a machete. According to neighbors, he was a patient at Respaldo.
Officers at the scene attempted to calm the man down and persuade him to put the machete aside, but their efforts were unsuccessful. When the man advanced toward an officer with the weapon, the officer drew his service firearm and fired, killing him at the scene. The officer reportedly acted in accordance with the self-defense procedures taught during police training.
Neighbors said the man had previously been involved in incidents of aggressive behavior.
The victim was known as Franklin Henriquez, although this was not his birth name. His biological mother struggled with addiction, and the government removed him from her care when he was a baby. At just three months old, he was adopted by a woman who raised him.
He reportedly showed behavioral difficulties from an early age and was later diagnosed with mental health conditions. His family accepted him and supported him throughout his struggles.
He received regular medication, but when he occasionally stopped taking it, he could become aggressive. In such situations, he would be taken to Respaldo, where he would stay for two or three days before returning home in a calmer state.
According to the information provided, these episodes had become increasingly frequent in recent months, sometimes requiring the intervention of Respaldo’s FACT Team.
Some time ago, Henriquez began working at a laundry business. His employment initially went well, but his mental health condition eventually affected his ability to continue working, and the employment relationship came to an end. Although his employer tried to support him, he eventually found himself unemployed.
At the time of the fatal shooting, Richardson was working as a uniformed police officer in the Oranjestad district. Following the incident, he was allowed to continue his regular duties. According to the information provided, the ‘Landsrecherche’ had informed him that it did not consider his actions wrongful.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office, however, has taken a different position. Prosecutors believe the officer acted improperly and used lethal force without sufficient justification. They point out that both the address and the victim were known to police because of his status as a patient at Respaldo.
The November 26 hearing will mark the next step in the case.
