Woman slain by gunman
A stop on the Agricola public road to fix a problem yesterday morning turned tragic when a gunman fatally shot a 27-year-old woman after she refused to hand over a bag containing more than $100,000.
Melissa Payne
Dead is Melissa Payne of Lot 56 Den Amstel, West Coast Demerara who sustained a single gunshot wound under her right armpit. Her reputed husband John Fraser also known as David Fraser escaped unhurt but collapsed on hearing of Payne’s death and had to be hospitalised.
The couple was proceeding to Georgetown when they were forced to stop shortly after 8 am when the canter they were in encountered a mechanical problem.
Within minutes and while Fraser, a contractor, was attempting to fix the problem, gunmen who were standing in an old shop across the road came over and menaced them.
One approached Fraser, another went to the woman and the third acted as a lookout. Fraser managed to run into oncoming traffic but Payne was unlucky as a gun had already been pressed against her side and she was commanded to hand over the handbag she was clutching.
From all accounts, the woman attempted to escape and was shot in the process while the men fled through a nearby alleyway with the bag and two gold chains she was wearing at the time.
According to information reaching this newspaper, Fraser had recounted that he was attempting to fix his vehicle when a “big man” with a handkerchief over his nose came up and pressed a gun to his head.
While running away he instructed Payne who was standing a short distance away to hand over the bag and run. However one of the bandits was standing next to the woman and he grabbed her. It was while she was trying to slip away from the bandit that she was shot. Fraser recounted too that he ran up the road and the gunmen shot at him and then ran into a shop across the road.
Eyewitness accounts of what transpired were slightly different. On a visit to the scene, things were calm and the canter truck had already been removed by the police.
This newspaper noticed two van loads of heavily armed policemen coming out of the road leading to the back of the village. A man was in the tray of one of the vehicles. This newspaper could not ascertain if the man was a suspect in the incident but according to reports the three men are known criminals who would attack unsuspecting villagers late at night. They would hide out in an old shop at the entrance of the street and would pounce on persons as they passed, robbing them of valuables and in some cases carrying out sexual assaults. Two of the youths are living in the Agricola while the third is from a community farther up the East Bank but spends lots of time in the village.
“Them man
been watching”
Residents recalled that the canter stopped on the public road between two shops and one of the front seats was pushed forwards in order for Fraser to fix a problem.
Stabroek News was told that the woman was standing a few feet away clutching a bag that was around her shoulder and she was acting uneasy. Residents said that from the way she was behaving the three thieves who were watching on from the shop across the road may have suspected that she had valuables in the bag and in addition she was wearing gold bangles and chains.
Persons recalled seeing the men walking across to the canter, two walked towards the couple while the other took up a position a short distance away.
When one approached Fraser, he immediately ran into the early morning heavy traffic and the woman attempted to run down a nearby alleyway. However she only managed to flee a few feet when a gun was pressed against her side. Reports are that the woman attempted to run but was shot after which the gunman snatched the bag and two gold chains she had on and ran into the village, jumping fences in the process.
Stabroek News was told that none of the men was wearing a mask during the attack.
Following the shooting there was a traffic build-up on the East Bank highway and public-spirited citizens placed the motionless woman in the back of a car which took her to the hospital. There she was pronounced dead on arrival.
The woman’s mother Debora Payne and an aunt were inconsolable when they turned up at the hospital. Debora fainted minutes after she had seen the body of her eldest daughter at the Georgetown Hospital morgue.
Amidst wails the woman said “Who ever did this, they will pay for this. Father God give me strength. Ow Meli, Ow Mel”.
The woman said that she last spoke with Payne on Tuesday about some money she had given to her to bank. Her daughter had promised that she would continue that conversation the following day (yesterday) at home.
Debora recalled that she received a telephone call informing her that her daughter was admitted to the Georgetown Hospital and that she should come immediately. Payne was described by her mother as a kind, loving person.
No faith in police
In light of the rising incidence of gun-related and petty crimes in the East Bank Demerara community residents said that they have lost their confidence in the police as they do not come when there are reports. Instead they would converge on the community when there are “major’ incidents.
According to residents many crimes occur in the village but they do not report them especially since they are being committed by persons who can be easily identified and are around them regularly.
They said that when the wayward youths commit crimes on the public road they flee though alleyways and disappear.
In yesterday morning’s incident police who just happened to be in the area arrived shortly after the incident, but there were no reports reaching Stabroek News of any attempt to track the three men.
One woman said that she had been a victim several times but it makes no sense to report them to the police.
In a release on the incident, police said a warhead was recovered at the scene.
This %^& makes me very sick!! Why is it that people are still killing each other for material wealth?? You knw what the Joint Service should set up a camp in Agricola and deal with these fools the same way the had Buxton!!
well said sandhurst, I think they should even go further, set up all over the country, don’t just stay at HQ and oustations, they need to be on patrol 24 hrs aday, There is enough men in the army and police force , split them up .
The main problem is they don’t think ahead , always waiting for something to happen first, so sad, all it takes is a little common sense.
Sandman, Uncle Ulric agrees with you. There is no comprehensive crime fighting strategy yet adopted by the “Foolice” . You don’t fight crime by having your ranks lock themselves in stations. You put them on the street where they are visible; you give them the tools they need; you motivate them. You don’t tell them that “deh aint no use fighting the crooks when deh Govt aint promoting anybody” That is my understanding of the attitude expressed by several commanders. Then on the other hand, citizens must be more cognizant of the environment in which they find themselves. Why wear fancy and expensive jewelry to go shopping? Why flaunt your wealth in the city for all to see? Poor judgement. What is the police doing to educate citizens to avoid certain neighborhoods? Why are they not using daily advisories to alert citizens of potential crime problems and what to do in order to avoid being a victim? The answer is that the Commisioner of Police and his administration is inept. ISNM
Soldier you are on the ground you should know. Guyanese were fore warned. When you create a monster it will eventually turn around and devour you. The chickens have come home to roost. AMEN.
Why! Why! Why! Every Day its the same thing. Guyana is out of control. The country needs to find God. Tired of this nonsense. My prayers go out to this family. Bring corporal punishment and these criminals will think twice. This has me fuming right now!
crime ,,,crime,,when will this nonsense stop…my sympathy goes out to the payne family…soon as the truck brake down and knowing it is in agricola and know she had to get out she should have taken out her jewellery and hide them along with the cash in the truck before getting out….people need to think how to help protect there belongings……hope the po po find these guys before they strike again…..
All I am asking is for the “Capital Punishment” to be brought back. Are you listening Mr. President. Maybe I can get the moderator/Stabroke News to convey this message to OP/Parliament.
Bring back CAPITAL PUNISHMENT!! and let have a speedy trial for these criminals.
Agricola has been a criminals’ haven for years,even before Buxton,but there is not enough attention paid to that area by the authorities,probably because of its location…..arnold it would be interesting to hear what you think of this incident,the bandits do not discriminate,they will attack you if they think that you have something that they want,it is very sad that there are still people who think that only certain people are in danger,it is also unfair,because everyone is living in fear in Guyana… people can no longer be seen to wear jewelery especially is an area like Agricola,the GPF should respond to the cries of the residents of Agricola,not wait until it is out of control,and then the innocent villagers have to endure the police kicking down their doors.My sympathies to the family of this girl!!
Yo guy123,
Thanks for the welcome back yesterday. Yes bro, I was online because I was happy about President Elect Barack Obama (respect due) and because I had a free day too. Also yes, I am a true born Guyanese, like you and a few other bloggers. Lets keep it that way pardna.
Sr Guy, hope that those criminals would soon be caught, and all would be able to see their IDENTITIES. The neighbourhood should of reported those lurking criminals/murderer.
Without any access to Lawyer, those criminals when caught should be sentenced to DEATH….
Hope that the husband soon get well!!
My deepest sympathy to all the family & friends.
I believe it is out of control. The GPF did the same thing a few years ago when the killed most of those who broke out of jail: they sat on their hands, until Fineman and Skinny both of whom are from Agricola. Now they are doing the same thing. They need to get into Agricola and clean it out.
omg, when will this situation ever end, lawless is at its peak and the police seems helpless, not to mention the useless govt who seems not to want to wage war on criminals running wild in guyana, my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family.
And yet the promoting tourism. Not even Guyanese want to travel now.
We have a lot of bloggers who will say that the gov. made many advancements to the country, yet the poor is robbed and killed, the rich continue to exploit the country, the criminals maintain control of the streets and abuse and batter continues to rain on women.
Only God can help this forsaken place.
Another life has been snuffed out by the bullet of criminals. Peole can’t go about their business without having the feeling that death is lurking around the corner. These “hot spots” need be given proper attention. The police have to respond to all calls, whether it is a petty crime or a major violent one.
Certain places (maybe only in your homes tou can) you can’t flaunt your “wealth”, you are just inviting unwanted people to come take a closer look. This woman has lost her life because of she was not thinking ahead. I am not saying that people should not be free to move around this country as they please. I am simply saying, because of the situation that we are grappled with and the authorities seem to have almost no clue what is going on, we have to be strategic in our thinking to preserve our lives and materials. She should have taken off her jewellery and hid all valuables in the truck in a not so obvious spot. Exited the truck with the bag and pretend that everything she owned was in it, hence creating a smoke screen.
We have to protect ourselves from these marauding band of outlaws becase it seems we are alone in this fight for survival.
My deepest sympathies to the family
John Smith,well said.People should have what is call muggers money,that is
a small amount separated from what you are not willing to lose.Life is worth more than any material thing be ready to give whatever they ask for that is material,with life you can work for it again.It is a very sad situation that we face today.
we the ordinary people do not have a voice. Do we??? so much is happening, have we seen any changes?? how can we fight these criminals? with what?? if the death penalty is instituted, it will indeed make an impact on crime, but so far as I see it, this will never happen in the near future, so we are all on our own feet to run as far away as we can, if we can afford to leave everything behind. nothing may change in terms of fighting criminals, just watch and see. it is even sad for me to say this, but i have to be truthful to myself that this is the situation all of us and our loved ones have to face in Guyana.
come on people , you know these elements, yet you will not report it to the police. well then it only let me to believe that you agree with what they are doing.
the shop owner, knowing these characters yet he tolerate them to hang around to prey on the innocent, shame on him.
freespeech,don’t you understand?They do report what they know at their own peril,these people are in more danger than anyone else,do not forget what happened a few years ago when they slaughtered all those people even old people and children…it is Ok for you to accuse these people of being in agreement with what is going on…but you are not in their shoes,they have to live there,even though so many were killed in Buxton they had their house burnt down,they dare not let the bandits know if they even go near a police,their lives were in danger,when they talk somehow the bandits know,and they are silenced,and yet the police have hardly done anything to change the situation,all they do is harass innocent people in those villages….have some understanding for those people’s situation,they repeatedly report to the foolice and still there is no action…read the article freespeech!!
Sigh, another incident, my condolences goes out to the payne family in your time of bereavement, may you find solace in your time of mourning. Another senseless killing, the police needs to step up it’s campaign in agricola to root out the criminal elements in that village.
before it was police brutality and profiling, why you want them there now, to cry the same.
Why; why???
Why can’t the police go undercover and catch these parasites? These menis should be shot on sight and be done with. It is a shame such things are going on in open day light and nothing is being done.
Please, clean-up.
That’s why it was a good thing we had Roger Khan when we did, at least he or his men would’ve eliminated the problem for us and these people may have still been alive today. It’s in the villagers’ own words that the “police don’t come when we make reports” and they lost confidence in the police.
I don’t know her, but, May Melissa Payne Rest In Peace.