Police yesterday cornered and shot dead a gunman on Brickdam, minutes after he had robbed a city businessman with the aid of an accomplice.
It appears that the two had no clear plan after executing the robbery in John Street. They were apparently contemplating their next move when a police mobile patrol got word of the brazen midday attack and moved in quickly.
Since they were on a bicycle, the two did not get far. Police caught up with them at the corner of Brickdam and Chalmers Place, Stabroek where one of them was shot dead.
Up to press time last night, the dead gunman was unidentified. However, a few persons who saw him at the Georgetown Public Hospital called him `Black boy’. He was shot twice; once to the lower back and once in his right leg, and was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital.
Police said the man was shot dead during an armed confrontation after he opened fire on the patrol that was in hot pursuit. However, persons who said they were eyewitnesses rejected this version.
In a press release issued last evening, police said an unlicensed 9 mm Beretta pistol along with three live rounds and a spent shell were recovered. They said the two men had entered the Royal Refrigeration building at John Street, Werk-en-Rust, Georgetown, and held the owner George Ramsarran at gunpoint. The men tied him up with duct tape and took away some $95,000, a wristwatch and a gold band.
Police patrols responded quickly to the report of the robbery and tracked the duo down within minutes, based on the information that they were on a bicycle heading east along Brickdam. According to the police, the ranks of one of the patrols spotted the suspects and on seeing the police approaching, one of the two men pulled out a firearm and discharged a round at the police who returned fire hitting him.
The other suspect, who, eyewitnesses said, surrendered after realizing there was no way out, is in custody. Police said he has been identified by the robbery victim as one of the two men who had robbed him of $94,600 along with a wristwatch. The cash and the watch were recovered.
Persons at the scene bemoaned the shooting yesterday, calling it another example of excessive use of force by the police. Though the gunman was armed, they said, he did not engage the police. When cornered, the persons said, he was shot first in the leg and then in the lower back.
“Why shoot and kill a man when he is already down?” a man who is said to have seen the whole incident asked. This sentiment was echoed by others at the scene.
Blood was visible in the grass where the man had been shot yesterday, and a few feet away sunshades and a handkerchief, which were reportedly dropped by the other suspect, lay in the grass.
Reports are that the men had nowhere to run when they reached Brickdam, because police were approaching from every direction. The coordinated police response had them trapped at the junction of Chalmers Place.
Stabroek News spoke with a person who said he was an eyewitness, who was among several who challenged the police’s version of what happened. He said that just after 1 pm two men were spotted dashing down Chalmers Place with a police vehicle in hot pursuit. One of the men, later identified as the dead man’s accomplice, was steaming ahead and he made a left turn into Brickdam while the now dead man kept running north along Chalmers Place.
According to the eyewitness, the man who was shot had no time to pull a gun and open fire at the police because he was busy running, and trying to figure out where to go.
“He ain’t had a clue what to do and where to go because the police was on him heavy and I saw when he was shot in the leg. That bullet tear away that foot and left him there on the ground hollering,” the eyewitness recounted.
He was then shot again and put into a vehicle along with the other suspect who had surrendered at that time and taken away.
Later, when the police returned to the scene to scour the area for spent shells, a few persons chided one officer in particular who they said fired the fatal shot. The officer ignored the verbal assault and went about his business.
if the police was out to kill, they would have killed both men, i believed he shot at
the S.F. and for their safety they return fire, kudos to them.
I guess you didn’t read the article which clearly stated by eyewitness that wasn’t the case. The bandit was shot in the leg however it seems to me the officer was out to kill since he fired another round into the back of the victim.
Police should learn how to catch them instead of killing them. They should also learn to block the road so that the pupils would not witness the killimg.
Poor Police, damned if they do and damned even more if they don’t. Maybe the bandits should learn to find gainful employment, and become productive members of the community. They could even learn to be business men or police officers who try to uphold and live within the law.
Sorry but you can’t have your cake and eat it too, either you step down hard on crime or you don’t.
How do you arrest a man with a gun shooting at you?it may be a cartoon script but it is real.
Why capture them so they can escape from their holding cells during court appearances. Ha!Ha!Ha!
Look at that police picking up evidence with his bare hands. The police in Guyana have no idea about preserving evidence and forensics.
Look at the area, no tape or cordon off. Members of the public trampling throught the crime scene. Jeeze, when will Guyana’s police get real about preserving evidence at crime scenes!!!
My first thoughts as I looked at the pictures. you mean an Officer reaching to pick up evidence without marking the spot and taking the picture where the piece of evidence is and without gloves.
What case then can the prosecutors make in court when the crime scene has been tampered even with citizens presence?
Shoudn’t there have been investigating Officers dealing with that kind of evidence instead of the police himself.
this kind os behaviour leaves a lot of suspicion. What if the Police goes a place carries out an assault and then picks up all the evidence and plant others? this same thing can be happening with evidence from different places. No wonder the ballistics are always greeted with scepticism. It this that we seem there. This matter should be investigated by the authorities. Maybe SN should send the photos to the responsible Commission for review and action.
this Officer should be relieved from this type of duty. Who knows what’s happening?
i agree
bandits who carry guns should be shot we need to show an example and be hard with these bandits.
Ditto! Such small time crooks evolve to become the likes of Blackie, Skinny & Fineman etc.
I am sorry that another life has been lost but these youths have chosen a path to easy money and might is right.
They terrorise their victims with weapons and take their money. Some even incapacitate their victims or leave them dead.
The custodial arm of the judicial system as well as the Courts do not insure they remain out of society for a long time.
The Police are becoming frustrated that their efforts to curb crime is frustrated by the Courts.
Poverty spawns violence, hopelessness and despair spawn crimes. And when a group of young men/ people have nothing to live for, they will die for anything, it is evident of the front page of the newspaper everyday.
Individuals have to take resposibility for their actions i agree with that, however when there are other aspects to be considered like the lack of jobs to support yourself or family we will have a problem.
The government needs to wake up and realize what’s really going on in Guyana. There will always be crime no doubt about it, but to the degree that it’s happening in a country with such a small population (the last I checked it had not yet reached a million, correct me if i’m wrong) is outrageous. There is enough blame to pass around in Guyana, everyone just needs to claim there part of it and do something to fix it. This will require a whole different thought process for the government.
let me know what you think, It’s quite easy for us who do not have to live with it day in day out and love to comment from the outside, but that’s how I feel.
i cannot believe some of the comments i have been reading .
the police need to be praised on the good work and more police should take the same action then guyana would become a much safer place and the likes of me and others abroad would come home
The police have been killing for almost 10 years, nothing’s changed!
you know that in the UK we would disagree with your way of thinking,Mate,that is why we enjoy the quality of life we have here.
My above reply is to Redindian.
You need to believe it, seeing is believing so why not take a trip there and see if you still think that the police there should be prised for anything that they do. Guyana is the way it is because of the actions of the police there. Something for you to think about.
If he was armed when he commited the robbery then he was probably also armed when the police cornered him. So I hesitate to criticise the police for this one even though I believe that extra judicial killings have in large part contributed to the state of crime in Guyana today.
STABROEK NEWS:
“a police mobile patrol got word of the brazen midday attack and moved in quickly”
If they commit a crime, they must be punished. If they shoot at police, then they should expect a fatal response from police.
What I can’t understand is why the officer who fired the shots, the same officer recovering the evidence. Isn’t that a conflict of interest? Shouldn’t these duties be segregated in order to prevent such conflicts?
Wow! You folks have been living in America and Canada for far too long! Praises be to the police on this one! These criminals go around robbing people in broad daylight and when the police take action, you criticize them. Thank god this guy is off the streets, who knows how many crimes he has committed, or how many he would have committed in the future. As for his partner, he will be back on the streets in about 9 months or less.
When the police show up late, you criticize. When the police can’t catch the criminals after a robbery, you criticize. When the police take no action, whatsoever, you criticize. Come on now man, give it a bloody rest. The streets of Georgetown are so polluted with criminals, the innocent, hardworking people have to be afraid to wear their jewellery, use their cellphones, or even enter a bank without the fear of these monsters attacking and robbing them. You guys are so busy talking about the criminals, that none of you even mentioned the state of the VICTIM. Was he hit during the robbery? Will he be psychologically injured?
As for the officer picking up the shell. I noticed that too, but come on, what purpose would that serve? It would tell what? That the gunman had kindly taken the bullet out and placed it gently on the ground and thanked the police for a good job done? The police have their hands full with the criminals running around the country. But then again, you guys need to find something to criticize them about, so knock yourself out.
To the police officers who arrived on the scene so promptly: GOOD JOB and I hope you guys keep up the good work. :)
Yes the police did a good job in responding to this incident. According to this report, that is indisputable. Also, like I previously stated, they have a right to respond with deadly force when the need arises.
Mr. Ramsarran is lucky to be alive afterall these guys were armed. He has the sympathy of Guyanese people who wish to see our country flourish. Hopefully his psyche will heal in time and his property will be returned.
Unfortunately, this article also highlights other issues of importance. The mentality that goes with ignoring the obvious is the sort of thinking that harbours corruption in Guyana. With regard to my previous comment about segregation of duties to prevent conflicts of interest, I am not criticizing for the sake of criticizing. I am pointing out an area that has serious ramifications. This is the reason why criminals walk out of court on technicalities. Questionable recovery and preservation of evidence for subsequent examination is of utmost importance to ensure the prosecution of alleged criminals. Here you are minimizing the need for proper procedure. It is small wonder that some Guyanese neither trust nor respect the police.
Guyanese need to demand that proper procedures are followed so that alledged criminals could be properly prosecuted.
Seems like you are one of the few who choose to be open and honest about their true feelings in regards to this latest escapade.
Why be irate with the GPF for doing a “Bang UP” job? I agree, If the bandits were to escape they would have become seasoned and empowered by their victory over the honest and hardworking people of Guyana. The Police gave chase and had every right to defend themselves and the public from the actions of these criminals.
The fact that one of them ended up being shot dead is a by product of their chosen life style.
Excellent work GPF!! We must return “Safety” to our citizens, however we can!
I cheer when stolen articles and cash is returned to the traumatized and afflicted people who suffer at the hands of such inhumane actions.
wow you people need to get a clue, reality checks are needed here. If you really feel that way go visit and get a taste of the life then come back and talk.