Twin brothers came under gunfire at Sandhill Landing, Cuyuni River, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), leaving one dead, while the other managed to escape.
Dead is 22-year-old Ray Wame Narine, a miner of Spring Garden, Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam). His twin brother, Ron Keme Narine, and 30-year-old Rakesh Chunilall, also a miner of Banana Land, Berbice, managed to escape.
Dead: Ray Wame Narine25
Guyana Times was told by relatives of the brothers that Ray Wame Narine has two children with another on the way.
Police said the suspects have been identified as a father and his son, who hail from Pearl Village, East Bank Demerara. The incident occurred between 23:30h and 00:00h on Thursday at Sandhill Landing, Cuyuni River.
According to reports, the motionless body of Ray Wame Narine was found covered with several tree branches in the northern corner of the main access road which runs East to West.
The body was clad in a grey jersey and black/white trousers.
Police in a statement on Saturday said that upon examination, two gunshot wounds were seen to the chest area along with one-inch lacerations to the abdomen and shoulder. A two-inch laceration was also seen to his right arm.
One suspected exit wound was observed on the right side of his back, and a warhead was also recovered in close proximity to the victim which appears to be of .32 (calibre) ammunition.
Investigations so far revealed that the brothers operate a dredge in the Sandhill Backdam.
The surviving brother told the Police that he and his brother left their 4-inch mining operation on Thursday and went to Sandhill Landing, Cuyuni River, and while sitting on the front step of the Shanaz Allicock shop, a Honda XR motorcycle approached from a western direction with the suspects.
Ron Keme Narine said he recognised the pillion rider, as only a few days prior he had an altercation with him, and he relieved him of a firearm and ammunition, which was later handed over to the Police.
He said the suspects dismounted the motorcycle, hurriedly walked in their direction with handguns and started to discharge several rounds in their direction.
After the shooting they escaped in a western direction and while running, the suspects were still discharging rounds in their direction.
Ron Narine added that while running, he saw his brother collapse on the roadway, and he continued to run and sought refuge in some bushes where he remained for about two hours after which he returned to the landing.
Upon arrival, he found his brother lying motionlessly on the road with what appeared to be blood on him. He later learnt that the suspects had made good their escape.
Ron Narine told Police that he also observed a gunshot wound to his right forearm which was received while he was evading the suspects.
Eyewitness account
Meanwhile, according an eyewitness, who was a customer at another shop next to where the brothers were seated, at the time of the incident, he was at “Momo Shop” when he saw the two suspects pass him on a motorcycle, and they parked the cycle in a dark area.
Thereafter, he told Police he saw when they walked towards the two brothers who were sitting at a nearby shop and he saw when they pointed what appeared to be handguns towards them. Soon after, he heard loud explosions which sounded like gunshots.
On hearing that, he said that himself and others who were at the shop began running away and during that process he felt a burning pain in his lower abdomen. He fell to the ground and became unconscious.
He was picked up by public-spirited persons, placed in a motor car and taken to the Bartica Regional Hospital where he was seen and examined, and a single gunshot wound was observed to his lower stomach. The bullet exited through his lower back.
He was subsequently transferred to Georgetown Public Hospital where he underwent surgery and was admitted a patient. He is currently in the recovery room.
The body of Ray Narine was escorted to the Bartica Regional Hospital where it was pronounced dead, and taken to the hospital’s mortuary pending a post-mortem examination.
Police are currently looking for the two suspects.
