Shooting victim arrested –as cops probe foiled Mahaica break-in

Rodwell Joseph who was found with gunshot wounds outside the Georgetown Hospital last Friday was arrested shortly after he was discharged from hospital as police commence investigations to ascertain if he was wounded during a foiled break-in at Mahaica.

Crime Chief Seelall Persaud after confirming the arrest of the 37-year-old Albouystown resident said that investigations are continuing into the two incidents.

Meanwhile, a senior police official told Stabroek News that Joseph is suspected to have been part of an attempted break-in at the Jonestown, Mahaica address where a man was shot at Thursday night last. The official said there are more questions than answers.

Joseph was found some time after 2 am and was subsequently taken to the nearby Accident and Emergency Unit by a passerby. He is insisting that he was shot in both legs during a scuffle with armed bandits at Thomas Lands.

Joseph, who was placed under police guard when he was admitted, had told this newspaper from his hospital bed that he was attacked by three men in the vicinity of the National Park.

He had explained that he had left his girlfriend’s home and was walking along Thomas Lands when the men pulled up in a car and asked him where he was going.

He indicated that he was heading to “town” and, according to him; another passenger in the car asked him if he had money.
When he responded in the negative, he said the men jumped out of the vehicle and a scuffle ensued. Joseph said in his bid to escape he was shot at and sustained injuries to his legs. The men, he had added, took his cellular phone and his watch.

The man said that he “hop-hop hop-hop and then when ah reach pon de corna deh [East and New Market streets] ah end up falling down.”

Around 12:45 hrs last Thursday, a vigilant security guard foiled a break-in at the Mahaica home, shooting one of the perpetrators in the legs.

Stabroek News was told that four men approached the home of overseas-based Guyanese Ulric Grant, at Lot 1, Vor-Zig-Tig-Heid, Jonestown. One of the men was armed with heavy-duty cutting pliers.

As the man with the cutting device attempted to get over the gate leading to the property, he was accosted by the guard on duty and was shot several times to the legs with a shotgun.