1 granted bail, 1 remanded on separate firearm charges

Two men appeared before Senior Magistrate Fabayo Azore on Tuesday, each charged with discharging a loaded firearm in a public place during a reported shoot-out in Plum Park, Sophia.
The men, 23-year-old Lidj Grant of Lot 408 ‘A’ Field, Sophia, and 34-year-old Andra Stewart of Guyhoc Park and Fifth Street, Alberttown, were not jointly charged but faced separate charges stemming from the same incident on May 20, 2025.

Both Grant and Stewart pleaded not guilty to the offence. The charge alleges that they discharged firearms on a public roadway, causing panic among residents in the quiet Sophia neighbourhood.
During the court proceedings, the prosecution revealed that surveillance footage had captured the incident and that both men’s hands were swabbed for gunpowder residue. However, the results of the forensic tests are still pending.
Grant, represented by attorney Terrence Ferreira, claimed he was not involved in the shooting. According to Ferreira, his client was heading home on the night in question when he was suddenly ambushed by two unknown assailants. In a desperate attempt to avoid being hit, Grant reportedly took cover but was still shot in the abdomen. Ferreira told the court that the wound requires ongoing medical attention, including frequent hospital visits, and he argued that the video footage in police possession does not confirm his client’s presence at the scene.
Stewart, on the other hand, was represented by attorney Ronald Bostwick, who acknowledged that his client is currently out on bail for another serious offence. While this fact worked against Stewart’s bail application, Bostwick stressed that the prosecution had presented no definitive evidence linking his client to the May 20 incident. The defence maintained that Stewart, too, was injured, sustaining a gunshot wound to the back, and could have been an unintended victim rather than a perpetrator.

Bostwick argued that Stewart is lucky to be alive, noting the bullet narrowly missed his spinal cord. He emphasized that the prison system is not equipped to facilitate proper recovery for someone with such an injury. “He was arrested while seeking medical attention,” Bostwick said. “Given the circumstances, the court should consider bail, even with strict reporting conditions.”
Despite these arguments, Magistrate Azore drew a hard line on Stewart’s case, citing his previous run-in with the law and the fact that the current charge was committed while he was already on bail. Stewart was therefore remanded to prison until the next court date.
However, in Grant’s case, the court granted bail in the sum of $250,000. He is required to report to the Turkeyen Police Station every other Friday, beginning May 30, until the commencement of the trial. Both cases were adjourned to June 30, 2025.
The Guyana Police Force provided further context to the incident, confirming that two unidentified men, dressed in dark clothing and wearing face masks, opened fire while riding a motorcycle.
According to police reports, Grant and Stewart were on separate motorcycles travelling north through ‘A’ Field, Sophia, near the Mercy Wing Vocational Centre, when the gunmen pulled up beside them and began shooting.
The victims allegedly jumped off their bikes and sought cover behind a parked truck as bullets rained in their direction. The attackers reportedly fled the scene immediately after the gunfire exchange.
Crime scene investigators later recovered 15 suspected 9mm spent shells from the area, and CCTV footage from nearby buildings supported accounts that a gunfight had taken place. Investigations are ongoing.