Armed robbery suspect shot dead after opening fire on Police at Annandale

– was wanted for spate of robberies between Annandale and Non Pareil

A 23-year-old man who was fingered in several armed robberies was on Saturday shot dead during an encounter with Police ranks at Annandale, East Coast Demerara (ECD). The dead man has been identified as Joseph Fiffee of Buxton, ECD.
Preliminary investigations revealed that on the day in question, an unknown caller contacted the Vigilance Police Station and reported that the now dead man was riding a bicycle at Annandale.
As a result, Police went to the location and as they approached Annandale Cross Street, the wanted man was observed riding a bicycle with a cutlass stuck between the bar.
Upon seeing the Police vehicle, the suspect began to ride faster and eventually turned into a nearby street. The Police reportedly gave chase during which, the suspect whipped out a handgun and discharged two rounds, thus forcing the ranks to take cover.
In retaliation, one Police rank discharged a round in Fiffee’s direction, which struck him to his lower back. He reportedly dropped the bicycle and scaled a fence but subsequently collapsed.
The injured man was picked up and upon examination, a gunshot wound was seen to his lower back. He was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

At the scene, two .25 spent shells, along with a .25 pistol with its serial number filed off, and a magazine containing three live rounds of ammunition were found in a drain next to the fence where the now dead man had jumped.
Police stated that between October 21 and November 3, 2023, Fiffee and another male were involved in seven armed robberies between Annandale and Non Pareil, ECD.
The Police added that during the spate of robberies, Fiffee would have wounded several of the victims, one of whom remains hospitalised.
Records showed that he was slapped with an armed robbery charge on April 23, 2023, and was remanded to prison but he was released on August 30, 2023.
In 2021, at the age of 19, he was also charged with robbing a Policewoman and an elderly woman at Annandale, ECD. In that case, he was remanded to prison.
Again, he was arrested on May 2, 2020, after he was caught throwing a parcel of contraband over the southern fence of the Lusignan Prison. The parcel contained a quantity of cigarettes, rolling paper for smoking along with a cell phone and charger.
Fiffee was released from prison two months prior, after he was charged for another criminal activity.