Rio club shooting suspects released

Several persons who were arrested in relation to the Rio Inn Nightclub shooting which occurred two weeks ago have been released from police custody.

Ryan Sergeant was shot dead while his friend Jeffrey Ferrell was injured after an argument ended in gunfire in front of the nightclub in Forshaw Street, Queenstown around 2.30 am on September 26.

A source close to the investigations said even though the persons have been released, police are continuing their probe.

Ryan Sergeant
Ryan Sergeant

Police had arrested Lloyd Roberts along with four other persons.

During the initial stages of the investigations police had 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.

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. 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.