Shooting at MovieTowne leaves guard, mechanic injured

Police are investigating a shooting incident that occurred in front of the Outside Bar at MovieTowne in Turkeyen, East Coast Demerara in the wee hours of New Year’s Morning: Sunday, January 1, 2023, which has left both a security guard and a mechanic injured.
Investigations have revealed that the incident involved 30-year-old Olofie De Santos, a mechanic of Bagotville, West Bank Demerara; and brothers Erron and Errol Baptist, 29-year-old licensed firearm holders and residents of Seaforth Street, Campbellville, Georgetown. Errol Baptist is also a businessman.
The Guyana Police Force has said that Erron and Errol Baptist and Olofie De Santos arrived at the MovieTowne location in a black Crown motorcar with luminous trade plates, and they parked the vehicle in front of the Outside Bar’s entrance in such a way as to block the entrance. As a result, Sheldon Adams, a 41-year-old security guard employed at the said bar, went to the driver of the car and advised him that he could not park the car there, because it was blocking the entrance.
The Baptist brothers and Olofie De Santos, however, exited the car and refused to move the vehicle, the Police have said. According to Police, one of the Baptist brothers, who had a Hennessy bottle in his hand, then dealt the security guard one lash to the left side of his face, causing him to collapse injured to the ground. At time of this incident, there were more than 200 persons at the bar.
Olofie De Santos then allegedly pulled out a handgun from his pants waist and discharged several rounds in the area. This resulted in persons unknown, who were around, also discharging rounds at him. De Santos was consequently shot three times – to his lower abdomen, to right side chest, and to his left forearm.
He fell to the ground still clutching the firearm, and someone took the weapon away from him. The Baptist brothers, meanwhile, quickly entered their vehicle and beat a hasty retreat from the area.
Olofie De Santos was picked up by persons unknown and taken to the Woodlands Hospital. The security guard Sheldon Adams was also picked up by one of his co-workers and taken to the said hospital. Both men have received treatment at that medical institution.
Ranks from CID Headquarters subsequently processed the scene and recovered four .40 spent shells, six 9mm spent shells, two .32 spent shells, and two warheads.
Police have said that the two Baptist brothers were later arrested, and their firearms, along with two magazines – one containing 12 rounds and the other holding eight – along with their firearm licences, have been seized and lodged. They were also swabbed for gunpowder residue.
The motor car they had been using was examined, and what appeared to be two bullet holes, one to the right-side back door and one to the right-side trunk, were seen. The car has also been lodged.
Several persons have been questioned, statements have been taken, and investigations are in progress. (G12)