Duo shot during nightclub brawl over ‘spilled drinks’

Exactly one week after an argument over spilled drinks had caused the death of a man in Bartica, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), a brawl at a nightclub over spilled drinks has resulted in two persons being hospitalized in the Bartica Public Hospital.
During the wee hours of Wednesday, a man and a teenage girl were shot outside of the Paradise Nightclub at Third Avenue, Bartica. They have been identified as 38-year-old Conroy Cox, a labourer of Third Avenue, Bartica, who is said to be in a critical condition; and 18-year-old Lovella Douglas of Second Avenue Bartica, whose condition is listed as stable.
Police have said the suspect, a 46-year-old miner who is a licensed firearm holder and resident of Fifth Avenue Bartica, is in custody.
At time of the shooting, Police said, the victims and the suspect were at the club when a friend of the suspect, whilst passing the table where the victims were sitting, hit the table, causing bottles containing alcohol to fall and liquid to spill on the victims.
Cox and the suspect got into a heated argument, during which Cox allegedly threw liquid in the suspect’s face and assaulted him. In anger, Cox left the bar, but reportedly returned shortly afterward in a vehicle, and continued to verbally abuse the suspect.
Cox reportedly then exited the vehicle, and at this point, the suspect pulled out his licensed firearm and discharged several rounds in Cox’s direction. Cox was hit three times in the abdomen, and the 18-year-old Douglas sustained a wound to her right hand.
Both victims were rushed to the Bartica Hospital, where they were admitted as patients. The crime scene was processed, and two 9MM spent shells were recovered.
On August 23, one week ago, 40-year-old Mark Braithwaite of Four Miles Housing Scheme, Bartica was hammered to death during an argument with a businessman over spilled drink. That incident occurred at the Blast Gaming Centre at Second Avenue, Bartica.
It has been reported that the gaming shop is operated by a 63-year-old businessman, but on the night in question, his 34-year-old son was in charge of the operations.
Police have revealed that at around 19:45hrs, the young businessman and Braithwaite, who had been a regular customer, had had an argument over the spilling of alcohol on a countertop. Police said Braithwaite reportedly armed himself with several glass bottles, and began hurling them at the businessman, who was in the bar behind a counter.
In turn, the businessman armed himself with a hammer and reportedly chased after Braithwaite. He reportedly dealt blows to Braithwaite’s head and face, and Braithwaite fell to the ground and remained motionless, but was later taken to the Bartica Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The body was examined, and blunt wounds were observed to the right jaw area, above the right eye, and to the forehead.
The suspect was arrested, but was later released on station bail in the amount of $1 million. According to the Guyana Police Force (GPF), his release is in keeping with the advice received from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Shalimar Ali-Hack.