An unidentified male who reportedly drew a loaded firearm at Police ranks responding to a report of larceny of sheep, was fatally shot by one of the ranks with a service revolver, at about 06:20h on Wednesday morning, in a farm house at Mount Sinai, which is one of the suburbs of New Amsterdam, Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).
The farm house at Mount Sinai
Police said the man drew a loaded firearm at the rank who shot him.
Guyana Times understands that the dead man, called “Blackie”, lived on the Essequibo Coast. He is reported to have been farming marijuana 40 miles up the Berbice River for several months and would normally visit New Amsterdam to sell his product. Persons could only confirm that he has an East Indian girlfriend who lives in Georgetown.
According to the Police, three Police ranks, one armed with a service weapon, proceeded to a location at Lochaber Village, West Canje.
The ranks then proceeded towards the entrance of the farm house and were immediately confronted by a male, who rushed into the house, armed himself with a handgun and attempted to shoot the armed Policeman, who followed closely behind him.
During the confrontation, the rank discharged his firearm several times at the suspect, who fell. The man was rushed to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
An unlicensed silver coloured Taurus pistol and six live matching rounds were retrieved. Several articles were discovered during a search of the house, including a Plum cellphone, two silver finger rings, one silver chain, one compact laptop computer, and other electronic gadgets. The first four items were positively identified by one Ravendra Bipram, 27, of Anchorville, Port Mourant, Berbice, as his property.
He was allegedly robbed at gunpoint about 19:30h on November 11, 2016, at Smithfield Access Road, New Amsterdam, by a male fitting the description of the deceased who brandished and discharged a round in his direction from a silver handgun.
Police say the house is allegedly owned by a known convict who lives at Mount Sinai, New Amsterdam.
Guyana Times observed that the one room farm house was equipped with a bed, and a clothes line which hung above the bed; on it were several pieces of clothing. There was also a kerosene stove in the building. A pair of male sneakers was next to the bed. On the verandah lay a pair of jeans.
According to the Police, following the discovery of the firearm and electronic gadgets, a team of officers went to the Mount Sinai residence and arrested a 28-year-old male from Sand Hills, Berbice River, after an unlicensed Taurus pistol with 10 live matching rounds was found on his person. The house was searched and one laptop computer, seven cellular phones, a pair of binoculars, two motor cycles, a motor car and a lighting plant were also found and taken into custody. The owner was not at home, the Police said.
However, a source told this publication that the Police also removed in excess of $300,000. According to one resident, officers on the scene did have what appeared to be a quantity of cash while at the back door of the building.
Meanwhile, 74-year-old Patrick Baljit told this newspaper that his grandson, Yuganand Baljit, had been operating a livestock farm at Industry, situated 10 miles up the Canje River. According to the senior Baljit, on Saturday evening, three masked men armed with two firearms, went to the farm and tied up the guard then put a gag over his face before putting him to lie in a hammock.
The men took away 29 sheep worth close to $1 million and left.
The matter was reported to the Police on Sunday. According to Baljit, they received information that the sheep were discharged from a boat at Vryheid and taken in a canter to the location where the man was shot and killed on Tuesday morning.
Reports are that the owner identified 12 of the sheep which were in a pen at Mount Sinai as being his. Police say this was before the Police approached the house and the man was shot.
