Jerold Marks, a 29-year-old miner of Lot 15 Hoppie Street in Dartmouth, Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), was on Thursday shot dead by his grandfather whom he had threatened to “chop and kill”.
Based on reports received, Marks had lived in the lower flat of a house owned by his 75-year-old grandfather; and
on Wednesday at about 12:30h, Marks had accused his grandfather of owing him $100,000, and had threatened to “chop and kill” him with a cutlass if he didn’t pay the debt.
The elderly man had reported the matter at the Anna Regina Police Station, and Marks had been arrested. However, the elderly man had requested that his grandson be given a warning and sent home.
On Thursday at about 07:15h, Marks reportedly armed himself with a cutlass and a piece of wood, which he used to break a gate to the stairway leading to the upper flat of the house where his grandfather resides.
Not satisfied, he then broke the louvre panes of the windows on the lower flat of the house, and damaged the windows of the elderly man’s Canter, GLL 3623.
Marks then attacked his grandfather with the cutlass, threatening to kill him.
According to the elderly man, he became fearful for his life and asked his grandson to leave; but Marks refused, and continued to threaten him. He even attempted to gain entry into the elderly man’s apartment.
In retaliation, the man armed himself with his licensed firearm and attempted to scare off his grandson, but the young man persisted in his actions and continued to threaten him.
As a result, the suspect discharged one round from his shotgun, which struck Marks in his lower right foot.
Following the shooting incident, the injured miner was rushed to the Charity Cottage Hospital, where he was admitted a patient but later succumbed to his injuries.
The elderly man was subsequently arrested, and his 12-gauge, semi-automatic shotgun and two live cartridges were confiscated and lodged with the Police.
