Wanted man among 2 killed by Police

Campbellville shootout

The two men who were killed during a shootout with Police on Sunday evening in Campbellville, Georgetown, were positively identified by relatives at the Georgetown Public Hospital mortuary.
They were killed in a church yard in Campbellville following an exchange of gunfire with Police after having committing a robbery on Seaforth Street, Campbellville.

letlow
Dead: Jamal Letlow

Dead are Jamal Letlow, 22, also called “Gaza”, of John Fernandes Squatting Area, Georgetown, and Shaquille Fraser, 22, of Better Hope, East Coast Demerara, and of Lot 153 Lodge Housing Scheme, Georgetown.
According to the Police, Letlow, a fish cleaner, was wanted for an armed robbery committed on Christopher Persaud at John Fernandes Access Road on October 25 last.
On Sunday evening, after committing the robbery, the duo was pursued by a number of public spirited citizens, victims and a Police patrol.
The two bandits were eventually cornered inside the compound of the Campbellville Secondary School but removed a zinc sheet to gain access to a church yard next door. It was while on the premises of the church, they discharged several rounds at the lawmen, who returned fire, fatally wounding them.
An unlicensed revolver with five live rounds and a spent shell were recovered next to the slain bandits along with some of the stolen articles, which included five cellular phones, a chain, and cash. Several spent shells were also retrieved at the scene of the crime.
At the home of the victims, one young man, who asked not to be named, explained that the family was entertaining several relatives and it was during the celebrations that one of the bandits walked into the yard and enquired about a “Kevin”.
He explained that a group of relatives told him to check inside. He noted that the man walked into the yard, proceeded into the lower flat of the house and collected several mobile phones and was walking out.
“I deh going in the kitchen the same time and see the man, so I ask he, he is who… is then I see he draw to his waist and I done know something wrong… he pulled out the gun and fire one shot… by then I move to the side or I would a be dead,” he related.
After discharging the round, the man left but as he was leaving, he held several persons at gunpoint and relieved them of their gold jewellery and other personal belongings. “The other man, a rasta one was on the road and he also fire a shot… by then the skinny one who went in the yard run out and they run up the road,” the man related.
He further explained that the family attempted to contact the Police but got no response; this did not deter them from chasing the bandits. It was while on the chase that they stopped a Police patrol and related what took place.
In rapid response the Police joined in chase and the men were cornered.
When Guyana Times visited the area where the two men were killed, Police ranks were seen guarding the church premises. A portion of the zinc fence between the Campbellville Secondary School and the church was ripped opened.
The guard on duty at the school told Guyana Times that his colleagues who worked the night shift ran for cover following the shootout between the bandits and Police. He noted that it was until after the place went silent, they came out of hiding.
The wounded men were taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital where on arrival they were pronounced dead.
Meanwhile, in addition to the robbery committed on Persaud by Jamal Letlow, he was also shot and injured to the buttocks in 2014 by city constabulary after he snatched a gold chain from a minibus passenger some time ago. It was reported that Letlow was in a minibus when he requested to get off at High Street.
While exiting the vehicle, he snatched the chain from a female passenger in the minibus. The Police added that an alarm was raised and ranks of a City Constabulary on patrol responded and gave chase.
Letlow however, attacked one of the ranks with a knife despite being called upon to desist. He was eventually shot and injured. (Bhisham Mohamed)