The mother of twenty-year-old Gavin Paul, who was fatally shot after he snatched a chain from a woman on Saturday, says the shooter should be charged.
Stabroek News understands that Paul was told to “freeze” by the firearm holder but he chose to continue to run after he saw a crowd advancing towards him and he paid with his life.
Gavin Paul
The shooter was in the vicinity of Alexander Street and North Road when Paul snatched the chain off the neck of Alana Butcher. The young woman was walking along North Road when Paul accosted her from behind and said, “You wearing all this gold and walking alone?” When she turned around to face Paul he immediately grabbed her gold chain but Butcher said she refused to give up the chain without a fight and she tussled with Paul. The two fought and the young woman ended up ripping Paul’s jersey off and he slipped away and ran with the chain.
According to reports reaching this newspaper as the man ran off the shooter told him to “freeze” and he stopped for a while and looked at the man with the gun but within a few seconds he decided to continue running because a large crowd was closing in.
It is not clear if the man was shot immediately after he ran off or if the shooter followed him as he scaled fences along Robb Street in his bid to escape. In the end he collapsed on Robb Street in front of the New Court Yard and died writhing in pain in the rain from a gunshot to his back. Even though there was a large crowd on the scene no one took the young man to the hospital and some continued to grill him about the chain as he cried out in agony. His body was left lying in the rain for hours before it was finally removed.
Yesterday the man’s mother, Winola Baptiste, said the man who shot her son should be charged as he had no right to shoot him in the back. She said they have been given information on the identity of the man and plan to visit him.
“He ent had to shoot he in de back he coulda shoot he in the foot or something…” a female relative of the man lamented yesterday at his Hill Street, Albouystown home.
According to relatives Paul from all indications was given a serious beating before he was shot as there were marks on his body. They said that they observed what appeared to be cutlass brands on the man’s body. A man, who said he was cleaning his yard when Paul attempted to hide on his property, had chased the snatcher down the road armed with a cutlass.
“Dem beat he why dem couldn’t just hand he over to the police?” Paul’s mother questioned. She along with other relatives asked what became of his trousers as he was just dressed in his briefs when he breathed his last. “Is like dem strip he, beat he and then shoot he but he still manage to run before he fall down,” a relative said.
They said while what Paul did was wrong he should have been handed over to the police and the justice system instead of being shot in the way he was.
Baptiste said Paul had dropped her to church on a bicycle and before she walked in he told her he was going home because it appeared as if it was going to rain.
“I look at he and I don’t know why but he face just look kind a strange like and I ask he if is home he going and he say yes. But when my cousin come and call me out a church I just know is something happen to me son,” the woman said.
Asked if she was aware that her son was involved in robbing people the woman did not deny.
“To be honest he pick up with this boy who robbing people fuh years and who grandmother spend nuff money on to keep he out a jail. Is since he pick up with this boy he start doing dem things,” the woman said. She said she spoke to her son several times and even sent him to St Lucia to get him away from the environment but he returned recently and she was making arrangements for him to return.
At one time the young man worked with relatives clearing containers and from time to time he would go on ships but when he struck up a friendship with the young man he stopped working.
“I use to tell him stop liming with de boy and is not the first time somebody dead liming with this man. Another boy dead almost just like how me son dead and this man still living,” the woman lamented.
It was this friend who went to Paul’s home and called him and he quickly put his jersey on and left.
That was the last time his relatives saw him alive.
A post-mortem examination is expected to be performed today while his relatives are hoping that the man who pulled the trigger would be brought to justice.
This incident has generated such emotions – pro & con. And it is a testament to how desperate and fearful the Guyanese people are to reclaim a sense of national normalcy. Where are Guyana’s leaders when it’s people are wondering around in the darkness of despair?
his mother know he was/is a thief, he get what he deserve, how many had suffer before he did.
I am so sorry he had to go like this but how much more people suffer by his hands.
Pray tell- why is the shooter not found or identified as yet? Is he “well connected”?
This plebian shot a fellow human being in the back without hearing his side of the story. It’s not as if he was the actual victim of the alleged crime to justify rage or simmering emotions. How did he know the alleged victim was telling the truth? Did she have any eye witnesses to her account?
And to think that in a “so called” civilized society people stood over a human being and watched him bleed to death without offering aid. Civilized people don’t behave this way. Is it no wonder that the other caricom countries treat Guyanese REFUGEES like sub-humans?
Civilized people who live in state of law and order would have rendered aid to the dying man before turning him over to the authorities.
Biswattie – you just keep spouting ill about the PPP, and I’m curious to know why don’t you go home and say your piece. By the way – the word is WANDERING not WONDERING.
That is your problem Biswattie and it has contributed to your sad woes…You were not there, the people that was there did not budge and that is because they are civilised, they knew a serious crime was committed by this individual and the Firearm Licence holder acted within rights. So who are you to ask these numb questions when the people on spot asnwered all????
YOU ARE MAKING HEADLINES ON THIS SITE…DO YOU WORK AT ALL,OR JUST SEEKING AN AVENUE TO HAMMER THE GOVT, AND YOUR COUNTRY..GUYANA..ON THE WHOLE?
WOW JUST LISTEN TO ALL OF YOU GUYS BASHING BISWATTIE,
NO WONDER THEM GIRLS IN GUYANA AFRAID OF YAL, STOP
BEATING UP ON MS.BISWATTIE SHE HAVE A RIGHT TO SPEAK
JUST LIKE YAL, SO REST YAL SELVES..
you know it’s rather sicken that people get off at blaming the government for everything that goes wrong. the only way Guyana will move forward is when each individual take responsibility for that their own actions. everyone has a duty to be a good law abiding citizen, so it’s total bs to say it’s the government’s fault in Guyana or any where else.
i didn’t say the government is faultless, they also have a duty to their citizens.
I had the chance to read the article about this man being shot this morning about 2:30am because i was out and from what I have have read the person who shot this young man is no more guilty than he was.
…as a matter of fact whosoever is in charge of giving out gun license should also recommend that the license owner be trained to administer first-aid. Just think, had the shooter (and we all know who got the most guns in Guyana) had shot himself/herself in their leg..would they just watch them self bleed to death????
What happened on Saturday to this young man is a sterling example of how the citizens of this country hearts have grown cold towards each other…I wish i was in the vicinity of this incident because without any hesitation i would have rendered assistance. Where is this country end up if we continue treating each other this way???
You want to steal you have to deal with the consequences.
Sorry Maam thats just the way the cards are dealt.
I know its a tough time for you right now, but your son chose a life of criminality and a good Samaritan shot him in the effort to retrieve something that did not belong to him which he stole in a violent manner by snatching it from the womans neck.
The man who did the shooting is guilty of nothing. The chain snatcher is guilty of stealing something that isn’t his. Unfortunately he died in the process running away form a situation he created. He should have gone to church with his mother.
so you want milk and cookies cause you read this at 2;30am ???? you’re posts are always tasteless
SANDY, THE SHOOTER SHOULD BE CHARGED & THE WOMAN TOO, RIGHT????? SHE CAUSE IT BY WEARING THE GOLD JEWELLERY & SHE CAUSED THE BIG SCENE & SHE CAUSED THE SHOOTER TO KILLED THE MAN, & SHE CAUSED THE ONLOOKERS TO PUT A SOUND TRASHING ON THE YOUNG MAN, RIGHT??? HE WAS SUCH AGOOD MAN, TOOK HIS MOTHER TO ‘CHUCH’ & WAS GOING HOME TO GET READY TO GO TO ‘CHUCH’ TOO, RIGHT?? BUT THAT DAMN WOMAN HAD TO DRESS UP WID GOLD TO DISTRACT HIM, NAH!!! U R SO OUT OF UR MIND SANDY..
I understand that we must have compassion for each other but not when we fall prey to heartless people. He should have shown that example of caomassion by leaving the lady alone and not to wait and see how compassionate people are going to be twoards him. I sympathise with his family but his hand got cought in the cookie jar and he paid the ultimate price for his deed.
These crooks need to understand that people are not going to always cower in fear.
OMG i totally agree with you bro , its really hurts to see some one my age go down like that.
Sandman, when you mention “and we all know who got the most guns in Guyana” what do you me exactly, I don’t know who have them. Can you please shed some light here on a brother who’s in the dark?. Thanks
ARE U A LICENSED FIREARM HOLDER? I CAN’T BELIEVE THE BALONEY OF UR POST. IT’S BECOMING CLEAR EVERYDAY THAT U JUST WANT TO BE CONTROVERSIAL AND MAKE A NAME FOR URSELF BY POSTING NONSENSE ON SN WEBSITE.
IF HE HAD NOT PLACED HIS HANDS ON THE WOMAN’S NECK AND SNATCHED HER CHAIN. WE WOULD HAVE BEEN BEEN HAVING THIS DEBATE. CITIZENS NEED TO BE ABLE TO WALK THE STREETS OF GT IN PEACE!
sandman talkin bowt dem AK47 ,, wah deh in de haanz of u know who ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
Hitman…I suppose that you can write things that makes sense or is it that you are just another follower???
John Smith…you should know better because you are living here…
True_Patriot…ah who in Guyana got the most guns???..even the smallest child in Guyana knows that..ask dem “business men”
DESMOND MACDONALD …there are many important things happening in the country you are living in right now..try reading the papers there and blog there for God’s sake.
de 3 lb conundrum !!…you speak for yourself…don’t say what “i am talking about” because you don’t know anything.
tank gad na ay dem kech e fu gu bring shame pon honest guyanese way ay a tri fu mek a livin. de muda shud buy back de gal chain an pay fu counselling fu de gal; a talk bout shooter should be charged…chupes
WHY DON’T WE JUST SHOOT EVERYONE THAT WE THINK IS A THIEF OR BELIEVE IS THIEVING SOMETHING FROM SOMEONE…
SANDHURST NONE OF THESE PPP SUPPORTERS NEVER SERVE THEIR ARMY I SALUTE PEOPLE LIKE YOU AND OLIVER,
ARTHERLY,LIVERPOOL,COLINS,JOE SINGH, ALL PATRIOTS
OF OUR DEAR LAND OF GUYANA, YOU DONT HAVE TO ANSWER
TO THESE PPP SUPPORTERS. TELL THEM SIGN UP
WITH THE GDF AND SERVE THEIR COUNTRY..
The shooter should be charged if indeed he/she failed to get Paul immediate medical attention. Not because Paul was shot in his back. Paul must have known the risk of his trade and he could have equally caused serious harm to the young woman whom he robbed.
DEAR ROSEANE WHY DON’T YOU THANK GOD THAT FINALLY GUYANESE PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO BUILD SOME COURAGE TO STOP CRIME IN THAT COUNTRY,FOR YEARS INNOCENT PEOPLE THE HAVE SUFFERED FROM THESE CRIMINALS, HURTING THE INNOCENT IS NOT NICE. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE SHOOTER. HE OR SHE IS VERY BRAVE .
WHY DONT YOU ASK YOUR GUYANESE BROTHERS AND SISTERS
TO GET THE COURAGE TO VOTE THAT VISIONLESS GOVT.
OUT OF OFFICE, I BET THEY AINT GOT THE BALLS/GUTS
TO DO THAT..
First of all , condolelnces to the grieving mother but this confused article and poor excuse for journalism is a indication of the senationalist trash SN has descended to to boost readership.
Only the mother is allegely quoted. All the rest s pue speculation and hearsa. No police report is referred to. Hewas told to “freeze” and that he an because e “saw a crowd advancing” he man dead so who gat tell SN that ? It could have been anybody in the alledged crowd who shoot he.
Pure, unadultered sensationalist speculation. SN editors, stop stuffing yuh face with Chinese food and chewing genip and get more stories that help Guyana in its ongoing development. Stop put8ing notes on desk saying: ” See that robbery or rape yesterday, phone relatives to milk the story fuh the National Inquirer types. They gon got to say something ”
Ooops, I forgot, I have to provide something fuh no-hoper losers like Samarro to copy down : “Clearly, equivocally and condignigly, this boy had no prospects for a job under the brutal PPP Jagdeo regime so he resorted to roberry. Blame the government , Blame, blame, blame, blame, BLAME ! This is clear as daylight ! Why, dear God, why can’t people see that ! Sob.,sob,sob…”
Lunacy has taken its strangle hold. I do sympathy Reddy.
Never Ready, why don’t you use your honorary powers and demand Chronicle set up a blog in its Internet newspapers so we can vent the same way you come here and vent your venom against SN?
SN, I am not sure what you did to my comment but it surely makes no sense.
I would like to say that SN is a refection of freedom of speech and democracy. REDDY is allowed to spew his ignominy in the most malevolent way and you print it. This can never happen in Chronicle.
As for that thief, he got what he went looking for. His mother saw the writing on the wall and it was going to happen sooner or later if he did not turn from his criminal ways.
Reddy is situation is sad all over. Sanhurst my brother please explain why this was a petty crime? That young woman could have also lost her life.
REDDY REDDY REDDY you are so bad….Mrs Van Beek was shot in the front and not in the back. Let me borrow your little line BLAME BLAME BLAME BLAME THE GOVT OF GUYANA. Sensational journalism only out to sell papers eh REEEEDDDY. There was an assasination attempt on her life not in Barbados REEEDDDY but in your beautiful Guyana. By the way when last something like this (assasination) happened in Barbados. that is why you are there you feel safe.
There is nothing to charge the shooter with. Her son was fleeing the scene of a crime, which he had created. If you commit a crime, you must expect these type of responce, as you don’t know who might be present. Too bad for him.
i do hope no one shoots your family for a petty crime then the public watches as he/she bleeds to death without administering any help.
Agreed
Agreed, unfortunately I has this happened to me as well when I was living in Guyana. These thieves seem to think they have the right to take what does NOT belong to them & they do not want to work to get the material things they need or want in life. Too bad a life had to be lost here but the way you live your life also plays a part in how you die as well.
shf just rest your self nah like yo tired or what
Sandman its unfortunate that the public did not take this chap to the hospital. The shooter should have also taken him to the hospital but when its all done this young man chose criminality over decency and he is living with the consequences well sort of minus the living part.
Mack who shoot someone that is running away, in the back, at the time no one was in danager, so the shppter should be charge and jailed, if you live in the U.S then you go and shoot someone in the back that is runniong and see if we do not put you in jail
PETTY CRIME HUH? SANDHURST HAVE U EVER BEEN THE VICTIM OF A MUGGING? THAT THIEF DID NOT KNOW WHAT THE YOUNG WOMAN DID TO GET HER CHAIN. IT WAS HERS – NOT HIS. IT WAS HIS TIME TO GO.
The varying and conflicting reports in the media and elsewhere of any shooting death is the prime reason that a proper investigation be done by the competent authorities so that a full and true picture of the incident can emerge. Otherwise, all that is left are speculations that fuel social pathologies. As will be seen from this comment sections and other sectors of society.
Poor Paul, could’ve done so much with his life. It’s really tragic how he met his end. His mom must be crying out her eyes. It’s so sad what kids put their parents through sometimes.
Mom should have expected this. She allowed her son to associate with a felon who she admitted is up to no good. She should have picked up the phone and report the friend’s crimes. If you know something, say something. You are not immune because you and a felon know each other.
They would rather chill with their homies than do a honest days work.
When the criminal, Paul was instructed to “freeze” by the firearm holder prior to a standard citizen’s arrest; Paul tried to escape.
The mother failed to instil in her child common morals and common-sense.
No citizen with no gun ina dem hand can tell anyone to freeze they have to fire a shot in the air to alert the suspect…..wuh nonsense you writing?
Satish I don’t agree with the latter part of your statement my friend.
If it’s true that his “mother failed to instill………” then maybe we could also blame the mothers of Hitler, Bin-Laden,etc. for doing likewise.
There are cases where mothers kick back and enjoy the bounty from their criminal minded children, and there are cases when mothers travail in vain hoping for the best from their children…………… Paul choose this path, and now he is history.
Please do not worry, LoveGT. I have a lot of sympathy with your comment; however the mother cannot have it BOTH WAYS. Undoubtedly, her son was old enough to know what he was doing but by springing to her son’s defence, the mom opens herself to certain accusations herself.
SANDY, HAVE U EVER SAW A ‘REAL, LIVE SHOWDOWN’ WHEN COPS TELL A SUSPECT TO ‘FREEZE’? OBVOIUSLY NOT, WELL LET ME TELL U THIS, THEY DONT HAVE TO SHOOT IN D AIR, TO WARN THE SUSPECT TO FREEZE, THEY R NOT SHOOTING BIRD… THEY HOL DTHE GUN, TRAINED & AIMING TO THE SUSPECT TELLING HIM TO ‘FREEZE’ .. U DISOBEY & RUN, U GET SHOT AT & THAT’S WHAT HE DID,,, HE THOUGHT HE WAS TO CLEVER & FAST FOR THE SHOOTER OR PROBABLY THOUGHT HE WOULDNT HAVE BEEN SHOT AT OR THOUGHT HE WAS IMMORTAL.. I WOULD HAVE DONT THE SAME…
Mr. Satish ! You never fail to amaze me. If, from your logic, you think that the shooter is justified in his actions, let him come forward. He knew he commited a homicide. Also, his firearm might be illegal.
Please don’t blame his Mon, she tried her best, but he paid no heed. Everyone knows we make them, but we don’t make their minds.
PARASITES ….like you know de man who shoot this young man is a popo or what?
As i said before, the shooter should be brought up on charges for manslaughter, the family should hire a lawyer and sue the crap out of the shooter.
I concur 152%. Those bystanders who just stood by and offered no comfort will one day receive their just rewards for their display of lack of humanity.
amen-ra;you are so right!
Make some sense Borapork,,,What sympathy was shown to the victim, isn’t Guyana a free place, does she have the right to walk the road peacefully without vultures like this to rob and assault her??? SN What enjuries the victims sustain??? Where is she? Please put some balance in this report…The Mother said he is a thief Borapork,,,
his mother own words, he was/is a thief. the st lucia authorities should follow up to see how many there were victims.
amen-ra I agree with you.
What’s more, why didn’t this “public spirited shooter” report to a police station immediately?
On the other hand,Paul choose his path in life and reaped the fruits thereof.
That said, it’s a darn shame that fellow humans would stand by and see this man gasping for life in the falling rain, without offering any assistance.
Amen J,
even though I have not had a chance to read your comment referred to in your blog, I must say,
Nonsense to the maximum! the shooter was just being a good citizen. If the snatcher had really harm or kill the woman, and the shooter was there,then guess you would have a different view/comment?
Amen ra,
I came back Guyana yesterday and I was GT when this incident took place. Let me tell you, its easy for you and others to talk crap and back the wrong people because you don’t live in GT or have to walk the streets everyday; you can blab nonsense because you’re safe behind your PC. Did you for once think about how traumatize the victim of that incident may be or if attacker had done the unthinkable to her…
Life in Guyana is hard for many and has always been that way but what makes it unbearable is that people, rich or poor, have to live in fear of murders and thieves.
amen-ra, I must disagree with you. The shooter did nothing wrong. The thie died while comitting a crime. Don’t know the last time you were in Guyana, but those of us who are at home often, need a relief from these people preying on innocent victims. The courts are not doing a good job of it.
rodrick i guess you were on the scene at the rite time
and know what happen, why dont you tell us how life in
guyana/g/town did you see plenty of jobs,no children
begging,no homeless people on the pavements,no teenage
minibus conductor trying to make a living instead of
being in school, give us the real deal of whats is
happening in guyana since you just got back??
Turbo,
Do we have jobless people in America? How about hungry people? Do we have school drop outs in the US?
There is progress in Guyana if some of us are willing to see it; quite a few buildings being put in the GT/East Coast area. The new GBTI building is bigger than Pegasus Hotel; lots of people working there to complete it. What used to be rice fields at Hope turn is now a developing housing scheme. BM Soat is building a huge show room at Success ECD, Full Works Auto is almost finished with their big project. Almost every village/area has something being built, all of which create jobs.
But some people don’t want to work, they just want to steal and/or kill people for what they have. This hampers progress.
The bystanders clearly failed the test of humanity here I must agree with Borapork.
Soldier boy the criminal got what was coming to him but standing over someone and watching them bleed to death is not cool man. It really shows you how Guyana has sunk to a really really low standard of ethics.
Because he is a thief does not justify no assistance being offered after he was wounded. The comments of some of the blogs make veterinary science an appealing discipline because of the lack of contact with persons who consider themselves human.
Soldier: Guyana is not a free place and it’s not safe or intelligent to walk around looking like a Tiffany’s display window. The reality of your environment must always be considered in every action you take. When people are marginalized they become desperate and take chances. What is the probability that had he been gainfully employed he would have committed this act? Practically zero.
Guyana get your economy moving or things will get worse. The shooting of Gavin Paul has sent a clear message to other criminals “be prepared to to do gun battles for simple crimes.”
Then Borapork,,the same can bge said for a lot more countries,,including the one we call land of the free…
Soldier boy if you dont call it the land of the free why are you here?
Remember Roger Khan started the thing to cleanup Guyana of so called criminals,well everyone with a gun will try the same since he is seen as a hero.
The Burnham Oppression pushed me out of Guyana Samaroo,,,I am now comfortable here but will be remigrating very sooon…I am sure this is what you want to hear…
no i am not agree with u let the shooter go free the people have to stop thife u can take people thing like that let the shooter go
the truth;you would like to know that something like that happned to your son or brother.
truth i dont agree with you ‘what if it was one of your close loved ones ,profoundly i think you should have just keep your feelings to your self
no i dont agree with you “what if it was on of your close loved ones ,profoundly i think you should ‘ve just keep your feelings to your self .
I agree to let the shooter go his way. Can u imagine you go home on holiday and can put on yo two piece thing and look good. all u people who talking never face the hands of a robber. u go to change some money and cant put all in one bag. look at the business man tht them kill and take millions.
Rodrick, you are to the point. why should anyone suffer at the hands of thieves, being scared of everything in guyana. Paul had a choice, live the right or wrong way. the victim indeed suffered and someone stood up for her. thieves are criminals, and when they have the intent to robb someone, they only think of themselves and their loot, even killing their victims. if more youngmen stood up like the shooter, maybe some thieves will think twice to attack people. i really feel for the mother, maybe she has done her best to bring up this child, but his choice. sorry.
Truth dat!