Bystander killed by stray bullet while watching fight among neighbours

A bystander was on Friday killed after he was shot by a stray bullet during an altercation involving villagers over an alleged chopping hours earlier.
Dead is Marlon Fordyce, 31, of Lot 39 Albert Street, Corriverton, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne). He was shot once to the neck and rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital in a critical state. However, he succumbed to his injures at about 20:00h on Friday evening.

According to the police, Fordyce was part of a group of bystanders that had gathered after three men went to a home at Kingston, Corriverton, and accused one of the residents of chopping another man the previous evening.
On Thursday evening, two men were involved in an altercation during which Michael Austin of Kingstown Squatting Area, Corriverton, was wounded.
He is currently hospitalised. However, on Friday morning, two masons called “Tall Man” and “Dutchie” both of Number 76 Village, went to the home on one of the men involved in Thursday night’s altercation and began accusing him of wounding Austin.
They were joined by a third person called “Gunman” of East Canje.
Eyewitnesses say several villagers, including Fordyce, gathered as threats were being made and a fight ensued. Reports are one of the men called “Gunman” whipped a firearm from his waist and discharged a round, which hit Fordyce. He was reportedly standing about four feet away from the shooter. As Fordyce fell to the ground, persons dashed from the scene as the shooter discharged three more rounds.
However, no one else was injured. This newspaper was told that the shooter and the other accomplices then entered an awaiting car and drove away from the scene.
According to Police, Fordyce was rushed to Skeldon Public Hospital by the police in an unconscious state. He was later transferred to New Amsterdam Public Hospital, then to Georgetown Public Hospital for further treatment.
Police also said that at about 18:20h on Friday, the suspect’s motor car, PJJ 2319, was found abandoned at Number 76 Village, Corentyne, Berbice. Checks were made in the area for the suspect but he is not yet arrested. Investigations are continuing.