Four Rio nightclub murder suspects still in custody

Four of the five persons who were arrested late last week in connection with the fatal shooting outside the Rio Inn Nightclub remain in custody as the probe continues.

Five persons, including a former murder accused, were arrested from various locations around George-town on Friday for questioning in relation to the incident. Among them was former murder accused Lloyd Roberts who surrendered to the police in company of his lawyer.

Contacted for a comment yesterday, Commander of ‘A’ Division Clifton Hicken told Stabroek News that based on information received the police are still on the hunt for two additional individuals.

Ryan Sergeant
Ryan Sergeant

The police had also said on Friday that homicide detectives assigned to the matter carried out a search at a house at Hadfield Street, Lodge during which they found two unlicensed handguns—a .32 pistol and a .38 revolver—as well as 15 rounds of ammunition.

Ryan Sergeant was shot dead, while his friend Jeffrey Ferrell was injured after an argument ended in gunfire in front of the nightclub in Queenstown around 2.30 am last Monday.

Sergeant, called ‘Harry,’ 19, of Festival City, North Ruimveldt, Georgetown, was shot once to his head and reportedly dumped outside the Woodlands Hospital, where he was subsequently pronounced dead.

Ferrell, who also resides in North Ruimveldt, was shot to his neck and underwent emergency surgery. He remains hospitalised.

While the details of what exactly transpired remained unclear, sources had told this newspaper that Sergeant was not part of the argument but was shot while seeking cover when shots were fired.

Stabroek News was told that while in the club, a suspect’s girlfriend and another woman were involved in a fight, resulting in the intervention of the men. During the ensuing altercation, firearms were drawn and the scuffle was taken outside, where the men were shot.

It was reported that Ferrell was involved in an altercation with another man over the girlfriend of one of the suspects, which resulted in the suspect and his girlfriend leaving the club. Ferrell and his friends, including Ser-geant, followed them outside, where the argument resumed and escalated.