The gunman who was shot dead by police on Tuesday afternoon shortly after robbing a city businessman, was yesterday identified as Dexter Chase, 36, of Evan Phillips Park, Agricola, East Bank Demerara.
His accomplice who had surrendered, remains in police custody and will be charged shortly.
Police in a release yesterday afternoon said that Chase was identified by an uncle.
Stabroek News was reliably informed that Chase was deported from the United States several years ago and took up residence in Agricola where he lived alone since he has no close relatives here.
Reports are that the home in which he had resided for at least two years was cleaned out by a female acquaintance yesterday morning. Residents informed this newspaper that various household articles were loaded onto a donkey cart and a car, which the woman later boarded. The man’s dogs were also taken away, this newspaper was told.
Meanwhile, the news that Chase was killed in such a manner sent shockwaves throughout the East Bank community and several residents described Chase as a quiet man. They said that they had never known that he was involved in such activities.
Though, he was not known by name, Stabroek News was told that he would sometimes mingle with others in the area. Other than that, he kept to himself.
According to reports, Chase operated a taxi a few months ago but the vehicle was taken back by the owner as the man reportedly began transporting persons of questionable character.
Police said the man was shot dead during an armed confrontation after he opened fire on the patrol that was in hot pursuit.
A press release had said that an unlicensed 9 mm Beretta pistol along with three live rounds and a spent shell were recovered. They said that 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.
He was shot twice; once to the lower back and once in his right leg, and was pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Hospital.
The other suspect, according to reports surrendered after realizing there was no way out. Police said he has been identified by the robbery victim as one of the two men who had robbed him. The cash and the watch were recovered.
