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.
Imagine ppl working so hard for their money & in just a few seconds they not only lose the money but their lives as well, some ppl might say the woman should not have fought with the bandits but oh god man after working so hard for ur money u have to watch it all go in just a few seconds…the police needs to get these pest of the roads.
VERY SAD TO KNOW THAT AS GUYANESE WE CANNOT WALK AROUND OUR OWN COUNTRY FEELING SAFE ANYMORE THIS IS REAL BAD MY SYMPATHY TO THE PAYNE FAMILY
Well said Bent St. Guy
Have to re-establish a police Death Squad, where by all known criminals/murderer who kills to rob, like those that killed this woman, executed when seen, because they are plainly identified..
No, we don’t need a death squad, what is needed is the police to do their jobs and have a strong presence in the troubled areas, when we get emotional we say things that makes no sense, we don’t need the police acting out against the law what they do should be according to the laws and nothing else.
Who knows whether the bandits in this instance were out-of-work former members of the phantom squad?
The sympathizers of those criminals/murderers would not crow/groggle now, would be waiting to get their sympathy votes.
RE: “[....No, we don’t need a death squad...]” So, how about “CHAIN GANGS” (for building the roads in the INTERIOR and throwing away the keys for the “heavy padlocks” into the ESSEQUIBO RIVER!
When will the “police cameras” be installed on the streets in these dangerous neighborhoods and these criminals arrested and placed where they belong – behind bars!
Kaieteur Gold: Since obviously these parasites have no regards for God or human life, what makes you think that security cameras will deter them? Trust me, they will find a way to tamper with same. It is difficult for me to suggest a specific “tactic” on how the police should handle this rampant crime wave. Our country is a place that is notorious for disruption to civil order and a lack of political control. The crime wave that has gripped Guyana for the past six years is not ceasing, and our citizens are afraid.
However, I am positive that prayer changes things.
Imagine every Guyanese, everywhere, regardless of religion, agree to set aside a day of prayers.
Already purchased our tickets to visit G/T for the Christmas Holidays but I am not worried, because I believe. Everyone have a good & safe day.
not bad thinking gold boy what about some of us send one each
KG!!! good idea, but they will steal the cameras too.
Hi I want to send my condolences to the family of Melissa Payne aka Dinka.This is coming from Lynn,Oneka and others.Melissa will gone but not forgotten.And I hope you get some justice in this matter.
My sympathy to the Paynes. I pray JAH these elements of our society are caught & given the death sentence. Some criminals have no correction. Taxpayers should not feed them. They should be caught, tried ASAP & hung, lethally injected or electrocuted. Once you take a life it’s like an egg sucking dog, IT DOES NOT STOP. Please do your job law enforcement agencies, we know it is a difficult task given the meagre salaries & other resources but it could be your relatives at anytime.
PLEEEASE
To those who say education is the key to stop this madness they ought to be educated themselves:::::
This thing will not stop because its not yesterday this madness of killing in Guyana started….Thank heavens for free press most anything can be out in the public domain now…..
When the community people remain silent….nothing will stop this….
Then there are some in the community who share in the loot..anyone think they will talk???
Must we forget how some grown women and young girls would throw themselves infront of security in Buxton to protect criminals there?????
Its called the “code of community silence” and will not stop…..
They throw themselves in front of security because the security were profiling the wrong people. The problem is that this incompetent gov is doing nothing to enhance the police force and to put people to work.
guyana is crime,crime and more crime,what is going on in my country?a young life is lost! to the PAYNE FAMILY AND OTHERS WHO HAS LOST A FAMILY TO CRIME HERE IS A PRAYERS FOR YOU; what a friend we have in jesus.all our sins and griefs to bear!what a privilege to carry everything to god in prayers!o what peace we often forfeit.o what needless pain we bear all because we do not carry everything to god in prayer!have we trials and temptations is there trouble anywhere?SHOULD WE NEVER BE DISCOURAGED!take it to the lord in prayer! can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share? JESUS knows our every weakness take it to the lord in prayer! in his arms he’ll take and shield thee thou will find a solace there. i’am deeply saddened about what is going on,my condolances to the family and may god help you in this time of your grief!
crime is not just in guyana my friend – it is evident all over the world. Pray for peace everywhere!
Whenever the gunmen in Buxton and Agricola go out and kill people from other communities, I am sure there are people within their respect communities who could identify them, but these villagers are themselves afraid. Can you remember what happened to Brian Hamilton of Buxton?
The situation in Guyana is going to get worse. The same thing is happening in Trinidad and Tobago. It is like the streets of Laventelle or the Township of Soweto.
Unless there is a Bar-B-Q in the villages, police presence is hardly noticed.
Leo Rojo
If my car break down in Agricola, i would not come out to fix it whit a big gold chain round my neck. Can some one tell me what this man was thinking? I know Guyana is a free country and a person should be able to walk around with there gold, sliver or diamond chain with out getting rob,but every body know Agricola is a community with lots of criminal. Just the other day some one was rob in a mini bus on the road head. People next time your car break down in Agricola or on the road head don’t come out and fix it with a big gold chain round your neck .