Money changer, teenage daughter gunned down during home invasion

An America Street money changer and his teenage daughter were on Thursday shot dead by two armed bandits who invaded their property.
Aaron Latchman, called “Star Boy”, and his 18-year-old daughter, Arriana Latchman, of Lot 58 Robert Street North, Better Hope, East Coast Demerara (ECD), were pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Public Hospital just after 17:00h. Based on information received, the now dead man was attacked as he arrived home at approximately 15:30h.
It is believed that the two gunmen were in the man’s yard when he drove up in his motor car. As Latchman exited his car, he was immediately held at gunpoint. His daughter was with him at the time.
The man and his daughter were taken to the upper flat of the house, where the bandits might have demanded money. At the hospital, a neighbour told Guyana Times that he heard three gunshots emanating from the upper flat of the house. It is believed that after the bandits were handed a bag containing a large sum of money, they shot and killed the teenager.
The man further stated that soon after the gunshots, they saw the now dead man being escorted into the yard by the armed men.
Shortly after, another gunshot rang out, this time Latchman was shot to the upper left side of his chest. He fell in the yard and was left in a pool of blood.
The two gunmen then quickly ran out of the yard and boarded a white Toyota Carina 212 motor car, which was parked some distance away.
“Apparently like they traced he before, because they went in the yard waiting, is every day he does come home the same time. They bring he downstairs and they shoot he in the yard and left he right there,” neighbour revealed.
According to the neighbour, as the men ran, money fell from the bag they were carrying.
A brother-in-law of the now dead man told this publication that he was on his cycle when he heard the gunshots.
“I just came home, and I went over to another neighbour to borrow two razor blade and I hear a knocking on the fence, but I say, man, must be the neighbour so I ignored it. But when I ride off now, I hear somebody seh somebody in Aaron yard, so I tun back my bike now and that’s when I hear bam! Bam! (making gunshot sounds) and then I see two men running at the head of the street; I can’t say how much of them, but I only saw two,” the man recounted in disbelief.
He indicated that he quickly ran over to lend assistance, breaking a padlock to gain access to the yard.
“So me and some others went over, we had to break the padlock for the gate and when we reach in, we see “Star Boy” lay down on the ground and I run upstairs: now, I see he big daughter sprawled pon the ground, I couldn’t watch at them, because didn’t feeling good,” the man explained.
The now dead man’s wife – an employee of the Dr Balwant Singh Hospital –and his younger daughter were not at home at the time of the incident.
At the hospital, the family were all seen in a distraught state, clinging to each other as they mourned.
Up to press time, no arrest had been made for the robbery-murder; however, investigations are continuing. (Kizzy Coleman)