Cop fired after attacked by knife-wielding men –Eve Leary
A 19-year-old man died at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) early yesterday morning, several hours after being shot in the head by an off-duty Presidential Guard following what police said was a robbery.
Relatives say that Akeem Andrews had an ongoing feud with his shooter while police say that he was involved in a robbery and was shot. The teenager was shot in the left side of his forehead on Saturday night on Main Street. He was taken to the GPH, and died at about 5:25 am yesterday.
Akeem Andrews
The police, in a press release, said that they are investigating an armed robbery which occurred at about 10:10 pm on Saturday on Main Street. It said that two robbers were involved, one of whom was fatally shot by a policeman, who is also a licensed firearm holder.
The lawmen said that investigations revealed that Kwamina Whyte, 28, of Timehri, East Bank Demerara, and a female friend were sitting on a bench on the Avenue of Main Street when they were confronted by two men armed with knives. The men held them up and took away a cell phone and $6000 from Whyte and a handbag containing $4160 and documents from the female.
According to the statement, a policeman – a Presidential Guard – was passing at the time and upon witnessing the robbery went to the assistance of the victims. “The policeman was attacked by the two armed perpetrators causing him to resort to the use of force during which one of the men was shot to his left side forehead. The other managed to escape”, the statement asserted.
The injured man, who was identified as Andrews, was taken to the GPH where he later died while receiving medical treatment. The knife he used during the incident and the handbag which was stolen from the female victim, with its contents intact, were recovered at the scene, the statement said. It made no mention of whether the shooter was in custody.
Akeem’s relatives told Stabroek News yesterday, however, that they are convinced that he was deliberately shot by the Presidential Guard and denied that he was involved in a robbery. Oswald Andrews, Akeem’s father said that his two sons, Akeem and Keith, had problems with the man, which arose after someone was robbed in the community two months ago and the man’s brother was named by them as the robber. Andrews said that the man was held and was released on bail but ever since the guard had threatened that he would get even with the brothers. He said that the shooter, who he named, grew up in the community and was known to them.
Andrews said that Presidential Guard “caused” the brothers to be held for that robbery but they were released and he along with several of his colleagues visited their home shortly after and threatened them. “(Name of man) said he is going to kill mi son and he did kill me son”, he declared.
Akeem lived in Norton Street and according to another relative, earlier Saturday evening they were at Leopold Street, watching a show, when he said that he wanted to go to his grandmother’s home at Tiger Bay. He was on a bicycle.
According to Andrews, the shooter and some friends were drinking on Main Street when his son passed. He said that Akeem was shot in his head and from what he was told two shots were fired; one in the air and one at his son. He said that after the shooting, the shooter drove away and other persons took Akeem to the hospital.
He was treated at the Accident and Emergency Unit of the GPH, where he remained until he succumbed a few hours later.
Andrews and other relatives were adamant that Akeem was shot because of the problem with the Presidential Guard. He said that the man was at the Brickdam Police station but other relatives saw him on the streets later.
Akeem is survived by his parents, two brothers and two sisters. He was a former student of the Queenstown Secondary School but left a couple of years ago and up to the time of his death was unemployed. He helped his grandmother at the home, relatives said.
This is sad, really sad man…..I aint able blog no more today………
SandHurst, I hear you on that Bro, sound like he had the perfect excuse. For he seems to have use the law, to his own benefit. I sure hope that he can sleep good at night. It is like you always say, bring back the NS,it may help in some way or form.
why no coment? you always have lot to say…
These alleged robberies,in Main Street,by suspects from Tiger Bay,have been happening over the past 50years.Nothing new.Another young man has lost his life.Youth and Community Workers,please note.Seems to be good Police work in the circumstances.My sympathy to the relatives of the deceased.
You don’t find it suspicious that the police he has a “beef” with shot him? Is it just a convenient coincidence?
Looks like fish, smells like fish then it’s got to be fish. Fishy, fishy, fishy, fishy!!!
I agree with you it smells fishy.Tell me how is it that a trained police cannot shoot an alledged thief in the foot or hand or somewhere to apprehend him? to the head that is a deliderate attempt to execute. DO NOT BE THE JUDGE, JURY & EXECUTIONER.
Why a shot to the head if it was not meant to be leathal?And how come when all those brutal crimes are taking place all over the place,you never hear that there were presidental guards or the police on hand to rescue the victims?
The testimony from the couple who were robbed is vital to this case. The shooting makes no sense at all – the presidential guard should have sounded an alarm and aim for the foot or some other body part. So far, looks like revenge shooting!!!
Guy123! Because he wanted to ‘blow his brains out’. Seems like vengeance.
I asked the same question. Where was this presidential guard while fine man was on a rampage?
Where was the President Guards when Roger Khan and his
phantom squad was wheeling and dealing ?.
Well, hope the truth comes out. If the father story is right, then where did the police got the woman’s bag they say was recvered??? Let’s see
So this Kwamina guy lied, oh please! Relatives must be honest! At least one of them must have known what he does. If it’s his first time, sorry but good. One less!
Due process, have you ever heard of it? You read this story and not one antenna shot up, not one????! Yee gods! What are you????!!!!
Do me a favor, if ever I shoot anyone under these circumstances, please show up for my Voir Dire. I could use you on my jury and I’m darn sure that I could tell a good story–even if I happen to be guilty and shoot someone dead just because I didn’t want him to tell the real story to a judge or a jury and want to cover up my true motives.
My name is Guard. Now that you believe that all the ‘criminals’ are wrong and I shot “one of them”, how can I not be innocent? You don’t have to prejudge me, just the man I shot to shut his mouth forever.
Judge him, not me!
Dawn Dawn, funny I like, rediculous, only if you’re funny, and funny you are not!
Next time, do me a favor, think before you post.
kudos to the cop.
You didn’t read the story, did you? If you did, then I have ten little words for you: I am truly sorry that you still didn’t get it!
How do you say, Library!
Gapi, you have lots of issues. My sympathy to you.
I really don’t know what to make of this story, who’s telling the truth, was it a robbery, or a revenge killing as it may appear to some, a change need to take place in guyana, jobs needs to be created for the youths, new developments need to created or else we will read more of the same news every day, my condolences goes out to the family.
As I said, play with fire and you will get burnt. I hope this development will be a lesson to all those who continue to choose crime as their means of survival. To those who continue to choose Main Street’s benches and other secluded areas for whatever reason’s, be more vigilant and selective before getting carried away.
I am curious, who decided that this young man was guilty or innocent? Where was the judge or the jury or his day in court?
Oh I get it! A gaurd with a history of a possible multiple motives for killing him said so, and you bought into that line, hook, line and sinker.
I got the Brooklyn Bridge to sell. Want to buy?
If he was a theif, then he got what he deserved,also what happen to the couple that was robbed,what’s their story.this should be a lesson for all the wnnna be robbers.