A suspect has been held in connection with the gunning down of Mark Caesar called `Lil Mark’ who was known to be involved in the “criminal world”, Crime Chief Seelall Persaud said yesterday.
According to Seelall, the suspect who also operates in the “criminal world”, was arrested on Saturday just one day after the execution which occurred at the corner of Broad and Adelaide streets, Charlestown.
Up to late yesterday afternoon, the man was still in police custody. Sources had said following the execution of Caesar that the name of a former policeman was being called. It is unclear if the ex-policeman is the person that is in police custody.
Persons close to Caesar and several police sources had told Stabroek News that Caesar and murdered hit man, Steve Jupiter called `Steve Man’ were very close and had often limed together. One police source had even said that the two men grew up together.
However, when asked if the two killings, which have striking similarities were related, Persaud yesterday said the police are investigating all angles in both incidents. He did not confirm or deny whether the similarity was one of the lines of inquiry.
The crime chief said investigators are still collecting the evidence to try to ascertain what may have led to the murder of Caesar.
He further said that Caesar has been linked to the “criminal world” for about a decade but did not specify what type of crimes he might have been involved in.
Persaud told this newspaper that as far as he knew, Caesar was never charged with any crime, but had been held on several occasions during investigations into execution-style killings.
Meanwhile, a post-mortem examination was conducted on the remains Caesar and revealed that he was shot at least 11 times about the body, this newspaper was told.
Around 7 pm, Caesar was standing alone at the corner of Broad and Adelaide streets – his usual liming spot – when he was shot at about 15 times.
“A light-coloured car come driving from St Stephen Street side… I couldn’t see is who been in this car or how much of them but all I see is that they roll down the street [Broad Street] slow and then I hear the first bullet… is a man that been in de back seat been doing the shooting,” an eyewitness had recounted to Stabroek News.
The badly-wounded Caesar was left lying on the corner and his attackers escaped along Adelaide Street. Caesar reportedly sustained gunshot wounds to the head, hand, legs and other parts of the body.
The car transporting Caesar’s attackers, reports suggest, was seen moving north along St Stephen Street and would have driven by Caesar’s house before turning west onto Broad Street.
After the rapid discharge of gunfire, the vehicle then turned north onto Adelaide Street and used a route from there to escape.
Residents told this newspaper that it would have been very easy for the killers to find Caesar since he was at that spot everyday
Shortly before the incident, Caesar had been speaking with another close associate. Minutes before the car appeared and the gunfire started, the friend reportedly left to buy a phone card at a nearby shop.
One of the dead man’s close friends said that Caesar was usually at the corner “with a crew”.
