Escapee killed in shootout with cops

Dead:Vickram Persaud

– after prisoners breakout from city court lock-ups

An escaped prisoner was shot dead during an armed exchange with police at Fort Wellington, West Coast Berbice last evening, just over six hours after he and three others staged a daring breakout from a holding cell at the city magistrates’ courts.

Murder accused Vickram Persaud, called ‘Lil John’, 28, of Doctor Dam, La Grange, West Bank Demerara, was fatally shot during “an armed confrontation” with the police at about 7.20 pm, the force said in a statement last night.

Persaud, was charged last year with gunning down policeman Michael Cumberbatch at his North Sophia home.

Up to press time, two of the men who escaped with him, armed robbery accused Randolph Marks, 20, and armed robbery accused Keron Cummings, 26, remained at large. Wanted bulletins were issued for them. The fourth escapee, murder accused Steve Bacchus, who broke out with the men