1 in custody for D’Urban Street businessman’s murder

Hours after 64-year-old Godfrey Scipio of D’Urban Street, Georgetown, was shot dead in front of a hotel in Kitty, Georgetown on Thursday evening, one man was arrested and is being interrogated in connection with the incident.

This was confirmed by Division Commander Marlon Chapman on Friday, who also stated that although a man who fits the description of the shooter is in Police custody, the Police still have a lot of work to do in confirming whether he is indeed the shooter.
He noted the investigators are grilling the suspect.
Guyana Times understands that the Police have been making efforts to retrieving CCTV footage from buildings in the vicinity of the shooting and once the Force is in possession of such, it will be reviewed with the hope of identifying the perpetrator(s).
On the night of the fatal shooting, the well-known businessman was reportedly leaving the hotel in the company of a female and as he approached his motorcar, he was accosted by the lone gunman who arrived on a motorcycle.
Initially, the incident seemed as though it was a robbery since the gunman relieved the businessman, who is also called “Saga” of the gold chain he was wearing but Police are now working on a theory that Scipio’s death might have been a hit.
After relieving the man of his jewellery and other valuables, the perpetrator reportedly fled the scene but not before shooting the businessman to the right-side of his abdomen.
Scipio fell to the ground and was picked up and taken to a private medical facility where he subsequently died. From reports received, he died as a result of severe damage to his intestines.
Guyana Times was told that one of the man’s sons arrived in Guyana on Thursday afternoon to surprise his father but instead he was given the worst surprise of his life.
At the dead man’s house on Friday morning, the aggrieved son was too distraught to speak to the media and instead requested that the media to leave.
Relatives of the dead man are still in shock and could not say what caused the fatal shooting. At the hospital, they claimed that they received the news of the incident and rushed to the medical facility only to find him dead.
They are at a loss, noting that they were told conflicting stories and as such, are requesting that the authorities carry out a thorough investigation into Scipio’s death.
In April 2011, the businessman was shot at Cummings Lodge during a shootout after four armed men discharged rounds during a robbery. Investigations are ongoing.