State House attacker remains on life support – Crime Chief

Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum on Monday confirmed that Bethel Ikena Chinezie, the 25-year-old Nigerian national who invaded State House last Thursday in an attempt to assassinate President Ali and was shot thrice, remains in critical condition in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Georgetown Public Hospital. He is on life support, battling for his life, and as such, detectives have been unable to question him.
Blanhum also clarified that investigators are still trying to put the pieces together in order to figure out Chinezie’s motive for the invasion.

Last Thursday, at about 7:30h, Chinezie approached the security detail at a southern guard hut in the compound of State House, located near Carmichael Street, with a demand to see the President. He was cautioned about having to be processed before entering the compound, but he resisted being processed, then whipped out a knife from a pouch he was carrying and used same to stab Teon Perreira, one of the guards present, five times about his body and to his neck. After injuring Perreira, Chienzie relieved a female guard of her firearm and retreated from the guard hut.
It was then that shots rang out in the usually quiet neighbourhood, much to the alarm of those residing in the environs. Civilian videos of the ordeal on Thursday morning captured Chinezie walking backwards from the guard hut while continuing to exchange gunfire with the Presidential Guards and other ranks. The severely injured Nigerian national was later surrounded, intercepted, and disarmed by ranks.
Both the injured guard and the attacker were rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) for immediate medical attention. Perreira was rushed into surgery at the GPHC, and President Dr. Irfaan Ali showed up to check on his well-being. Perreira later regained consciousness, and is reportedly alert. He, however, remains hospitalised at the Georgetown Public Hospital.
At the scene of the shooting, Police ranks retrieved a 9mm pistol and seven 9mm spent shells. While there were no other injuries reported, there was visible damage to nearby business entities.
Information on Chinezie has revealed that he is employed with a cleaning service company. He arrived in Guyana on March 13, 2020, and was previously employed with a security company.