…stolen vehicle used by suspects recovered – Police
One man is now dead while six other persons have been hospitalised with various injuries following a drive-by shooting that occurred early on Saturday morning in Durban Street, Georgetown.
The dead man has been identified as 40-year-old Anthony Havescome, called ‘Pandit’, a businessman of South Ruimveldt, Georgetown, who sustained a gunshot wound on the right side of his back below his shoulder blade. The
Injured are: Travis Ceres, a 25-year-old vendor of East La Penitence, Georgetown, who received what appears to be a bullet graze to his right elbow and right abdomen; Destra Auther, a 33-year-old vendor of East La Penitence, who received a gunshot wound to her lower left leg; Teon Allen, called ‘Spoil Child’, a 38-year-old unemployed resident of Sophia, Georgetown, who received a gunshot wound to his left shoulder; Stanley Matthews, a 31-year-old resident of Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, who was shot to his left hand and left thigh; Lennox Wayne, called ‘Two colours,’ a 39-year-old security guard of Turkeyen, who received a gunshot wound to his right thigh and right palm; and Lloyd Roberts, a 43-year-old miner of Golden Grove, East Bank Demerara, who received gunshot wounds to his right upper chest and left hip.
The shooting incident occurred at about 05:30h on Saturday at Lot 23 Durban Street, Lodge, when four suspects, all armed with handguns, pulled up in a black Toyota Premio motorcar, according to the police.
Reports are that the victims were in the vicinity of V’s Delight, located on the southern side of Durban Street.
According to Keon Aaron, the 37-year-old businessowner, he hosted an ‘All Black’ party for the second anniversary of his business at a wash bay opposite the business place.
Shortly after 05:00h, a police patrol came and instructed him to stop the party, which he did.
Aaron related that while some people left the party, there were still a few others liming and drinking in front of his business. He was checking off his bar when he heard several loud explosions that sounded like gunshots, and upon checking, he saw a dark-coloured, heavily-tinted car speeding off in a western direction.
The businessman further told investigators that he then went over to his business place and observed several persons with what appeared to be blood on their bodies. As a result, with the assistance of other persons around, the injured persons were placed into different cars and escorted to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC), where Havescome died while receiving treatment.
Meanwhile, the six injured persons were all admitted as patients – some right at the GPHC and others took transfer to the St Joseph Mercy Hospital. The condition of each is listed as serious but stable.
The scene of the shooting was processed and photographed by police detectives, including a team from the Crime Laboratory (CID HQ). Based on police reports, 29 suspected 9mm spent shells, one live suspected 9mm ammunition, four pieces of metal fragments and six projectiles were found at the scene.
A silver-coloured Toyota Allion motor car bearing registration number PWW 2242, which is owned by a 30-year-old and was parked on the bridge of the premises, had two suspected bullet holes on the front windscreen.
Acting on information received later in the day, detectives went to Manatee Place in South Ruimveldt at around 09:30h on Saturday. While there, they observed a black Toyota Premio motor car (without number plate) parked on the eastern carriageway of Manatee Place, facing south.
The vehicle was examined, and registration number PAC 8364 was seen engraved on the windscreen.
The vehicle was processed and photographed by the CID team, and 11 9mm spent shells along with one .223 spent shell were found in the front and back seats of the car. Two suspected bullet holes were also seen in the lower right back passenger door, and what appeared to be a graze from a bullet was evident to the left side back just above the gas tank.
The area was canvassed for CCTV cameras, and these were seen and will be viewed. The vehicle was escorted to the Police Station, where it was lodged pending investigation. The spent shells found at the scene and in the motorcar were placed in separate evidence bags and taken to the ballistics section to be examined.
Further investigations on Saturday led detectives to the car owner – Coleen Burrowe, a 33-year-old businesswoman. She was contacted and interviewed, and she told investigators that her vehicle was stolen earlier that morning.
According to the woman, at about 04:00h on Saturday, she was driving her black Toyota Premio motor car, #PAC 8364, east along Durban Street in company of a friend and two cousins. While at the corner Durban and Victor Street, she stopped the vehicle to urinate. At the time, she was approached by two men on a white XR motorcycle (registration number unknown). The pillion rider dismounted the motorcycle, pointed a firearm at her, and demanded that she hand over the motorcar.
Being fearful for their lives, Burrowe and the other occupants exited the vehicle, and the armed suspect entered the car and drove north on Victor Street, making good his escape while his accomplice on the motorcycle followed.
She further related that she immediately went to the East La Penitence Police Station, where a report was made.
According to the police, the place where the vehicle was stolen was canvassed for CCTV cameras as investigations continue.
