The suspected robber who was shot dead by police in a confrontation after a robbery near the Number 61 Village beach has been identified as Delroy Cort, of Manchester Village, Corentyne.
Cort, a 23-year-old pork-knocker, was positively identified by family members on Wednesday evening at the Skeldon Hospital mortuary.
At Cort’s home yesterday, family members said they were shocked at the claims that he was involved in the robbery because he was not known for being a party to any illegal activities.
Police, in a statement on the shooting, said yesterday that at about 2:15PM on Wednesday, ranks of a mobile police patrol were informed by a couple that they were held up by two men armed with shotguns in the Number 61 Village beach area, and robbed of their cash, jewellery and two cell phones.
“The police responded and caught up with the men during which the ranks came under fire,” the police said. It added that the ranks returned fire and fatally wounded Cort, while his accomplice managed to escape.
According to the statement, an unlicensed 12-gauge shotgun along with two cartridges and the two stolen cell phones were recovered by the police.
A source told Stabroek News that the ranks on patrol were driving on the beach when they spotted the couple’s vehicle parked in a passageway at the beach. When the patrol honked their horn at the vehicle, no one responded, prompting the lawmen to inquire about the owner of the vehicle. The robbery victims subsequently ran to the police ranks from an alleyway and related that they were robbed by men with “long guns.”
The source said the patrol called for back-up from the Number 51 and Springlands police stations. The ranks left the scene for back-up and on their return they came into contact with the two men, who reportedly opened fire.
At this point, unarmed officers took cover, while the other lawmen returned fire. The source said three shots were fired; two by the alleged bandit and one by the police. Cort was hit to the back of his head and it is believed that he died instantly.
Meanwhile, Kim Cort yesterday said her family was alerted to her brother’s death sometime around 6PM, after receiving numerous phone calls. She stated that she and other relatives subsequently journeyed to the Skeldon Hospital mortuary, where she identified him. She noted that he bore a wound to the back of his head.
Kim said her brother left home sometime after 1PM and only indicated that he was going on the road.
Cort’s body is currently at the Skeldon Hospital mortuary, where a post-mortem examination is to be done.
