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.
Not only should capital punishment be brought back! But it should be done publically! the Guilotine Shousd be the preferred method of excuteation! for these Wild Animals! they have no reguards for their fellow humans so why should they go to prison ,so tax payers would foot their cost of living bill while there? having the privilage of breathing the same air as worthwile and peaceful citizens! put them up against a wall and get the fireing squad ready, then aim !!then shoot!!!!!
Here we go again,another one bite the dust ,because of some youths who need fast money, can the cops set up decoys in the area to attract these youths? and then do what they have to do. May be these kids are Fineman offspring.
And this happened in AGRICOLA! If the police pick up a few Agricola youths for questioning, the People Nurturing Crime and Riots will bemoan that only one group of youths are targetted. So you see how some people are actually encouraging this menace?
Correct. That is the problem with Guyana.
RL
I love the new acronym for PNCR….ha ha
The truth hurts and what you said is exactly the case in Guyana, because our pathetic politicians can’t see beyond their “little schemes”
I have always called for our political leaders to stop playing the fool and deal with this crime situation with one voice. This madness is destroying our image abroad and is certainly tormenting hard working and peace loving citizens.
I cannot for the life of me understand who among our political elite (all parties included) is seriously expecting to gain from this crime situation.
yes, also the people playing politics.
My sincere condolences to the family and friends of Ms. Payne, and all of Guyana as this is also Guyana’s loss.
This Agricola situation has been around for quite some time. it would appear that in this case the perpetrators were known to ‘hang out’ at a particular spot and to commit unlawful acts from there. The police should certainly be aware of who does what but there seems to be a problem with enforcement in that area. I hate to think that the ethnic composition of the village has anything to do with the poor security in the area.
Guyana has the Death Penalty in its laws. There have been NO MURDERER put to death for a very very long time partly because of the Human Rights goody two shoes activists. Their SILENCE when innocent persons are wantonly and brutally slaughtered is DEAFENING.
Reducing the crime rate should be a TOP priority of the government of the day. The very development of the country is being held hostage by the criminals. I say ENFORCE THE DEATH PENALTY!!! Reduce the Death Row population – and use the Cat-O-nine for violent robberies while you at it.
My condolences to the grieving families.
The GPF has to wake up and recognise that the tax payers “still” expect them to execute their mandate and maintain law and order. Likewise, every citizen must be reminded that the duty is ours to collectively protect ourselves, our homes, villages, towns etc.
But here is the dilemma…. The GPF seem to lack the motivation (and basic equipment) to do their part, the judicial system seems to be a joke, and citizens obviously lack confidence in the police.
The net result?……………………………….. criminals “run things”.
At this point we simply cannot expect the Govt. and GPF to singlehandedly wipe out this scourge, instead every one of us must confront this menace in whatever simple way we can, and I am confident that working together, we can take back our country. ( the only alternative is to hide in our homes and watch our loved ones being “picked off” by these dogs.)
This incident angers me because here we have villagers who speak of criminals who are known to them. If the damn police don’t act when you call, then
try something else:- bombard the office of the president with mail or something. Do just sit on your hands and do nothing! Some of the villagers are just as guilty as the criminals who commit these crimes on innocent people. They laugh about it and enjoy the free beers etc from the after crime festivities. Citizens of Guyana remember this, the life you save may be your own. DO SOMETHING!
Please do not get me wrong. Because this was a barbaric act. But you do not run and leave your WIFE, to fend for herself. Everyone knows no woman would hand over, her purse just like that. Had he stood by her side and made sure she did. The out could have been different. I hope the cops apprehend those killers.
Right, Soesdyke. I wonder why he ran.
Soesdyke, outcome would of been worst, the two would of been slained, he lives to silence the gang where ever they are, or in jail.
Hear ye, hear ye. SHORTAGE OF REAL MEN IN GUYANA. No real man runs away and leaves his woman to face danger. He is the protector. I hope that he can face himself in the mirror, and that he does not run again, when his demonds come to visit.
Soesdyke……….What u jus said make no sence.U just listen to yourself what u jus said?Luckly thing the man run or else they both would have been killed.A man ought to stand by his woman side but they’re situations where could b excempted like this situation ok
I agree with you Bro, impulse or not………….no man runs away and leave his wife in such a situation. But I do express my sympathy to the husband and relatives of the deceased!
Some bloggers wanted the JS out of Buxton, now they’re saying that they should be in Agricola. Make up your minds, Dudes.
The shop owner where these guys hang out should be detained and ‘roughed up’.
I support the return of capital punishment. The judicial system that is letting some of these criminals out on bail also needs fixing.
well……….well…………well here we go again more of the same nonsense, if villagers were aware of these ‘bad eggs’ lurking around and committing these crimes tell me why they are still walking around as free men! please! tell me !
this is exactly what i commented on a few weeks ago when they comit a small crime make them pay dearly- it just may help them not to think of bigger ones.
Why has the Guyana Police Force (GPF) not yet an established “COMPUTERIZED DATA BASE” so that law enforcement can easily go after these criminals??? Also, where are the Police vehicles on the ground and the support Police “helicopters” in the air to be in “hot” pursuit of these perpetrators??? It is about time the police wake up and smell the coffee, take back the “streets” and provide the Guyanese citizenry with “safe” environments day or night. It is time to put an end to this lawlessness – Time For Change!
It’s the citizens who have to take it back not the police. Those people in Agricola know who these people are and if they stand against them this will stop but they seems to be covering them.