Former murder accused still in custody over Rio club shooting

As investigators continue to probe the more than one week old investigation into the fatal shooting outside the Rio Inn Nightclub, former murder accused Lloyd Roberts remains in custody and the High Court yesterday granted the police an extension to keep him for three more days.

This is according to Acting Crime Chief Hugh Jessemy, who told Stabroek News that the four other persons who were arrested have since been released.

Roberts surrendered to the police on Friday in company of his lawyer. His initial 72-hour detention period expired yesterday. As a result, the police applied for an extension which was granted.

Ryan Sergeant
Ryan Sergeant

The four other persons were arrested from various locations around Georgetown on Friday but were subsequently released after being questioned.

Commander of ‘A’ Division Clifton Hicken had told this newspaper on Monday that based on information received the police are still on the hunt for two additional individuals.

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 Sergeant, followed them outside, where the argument resumed and escalated.