The family of Gary Koster, who was fatally shot on Friday on the Mc Doom Public Road, East Bank Demerara (EBD) during what police said was an assault with intent to rob, is refuting reports that he was a criminal and is calling on the police to conduct a thorough investigation.
“My son was no criminal… I don’t know anything about my son being a criminal, police don’t have any wanted bulletin for him,” said his mother Desiree Koster-Dainty yesterday during an interview with Stabroek News.
Koster, 38, a resident of Norton Street, Bagotstown, EBD was fatally shot by a businessman during the attempted robbery along the McDoom Public Road. Koster was said to be riding the motorcycle from which the pillion rider dismounted and attacked businessman, Dharmindra Dean.
Police said when the attack occurred around 2.45pm, Dean was a passenger of a truck, GTT 5907, which was driven by Safraz Ali. It was when Ali stopped at the junction at Houston to allow vehicles to come out of the Rome Access Road that the police said that the pillion rider jumped off of the motorbike and assaulted Dean.
A police statement issued on Friday said the pillion rider dismounted from the cycle, drew a handgun and dealt Dean a lash to his face and fired in his direction. Dean then pulled out his licenced firearm and discharged several rounds in the suspects’ direction.
As a result, Koster was fatally hit and fell off the motorbike on the roadway, while the other suspect ran south along the McDoom Public Road and escaped. It is unclear if the man who escaped was injured.
Koster was pronounced dead on arrival at the Diamond Diagnostic Centre. His body was examined and two gunshot wounds were seen on his left temple and behind his neck.
According to his mother who lives in Diamond, she received a phone call from his wife informing her that he had died. The grieving mother said a neighbour dropped her to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre where she learnt that he had been shot.
Relatives told Stabroek News, that around 2.45 pm, Koster left home and went to the barber shop to cut his hair. His mother explained that minutes before the shooting, his wife who sells in front of the Agricola Primary School saw him along with another male riding past on a motorcycle. “The wife tell me that like three minutes after he pass somebody pulled up with a car and tell she ‘yuh husband lie down on the road dead’”, the mother recalled.
The woman lamented that when she went to the hospital she could not believe her son had died and was lying motionless in front of her.
The family stated that they are hearing different versions of what transpired and the police have not yet contacted them and offered an explanation.
Koster-Dainty said her son would spend his days vending. Quizzed further on if her son was known to the police or if he had brushes with the law, she responded in the negative but pointed out that 10 years ago he was accused of break and enter and larceny. Koster, she said, was later released after police did not have the evidence to hold him.
“I find it strange that they would say he is involved…I don’t know if it is wrong identity or what… I never know my son to be a criminal… I want justice,” the mother lamented fighting back tears.
The mother described her son as a charismatic individual who would always share a joke and look out for the children in the villages of Agricola and Bagotstown. “He would always deh buying things for them children… he is a very free-handed and jolly person,” the mother said.
Relatives said that they would not allow the death to go easily and would be demanding justice. An aunt, Wendy Mingo, said the family is trying to figure out the events leading to his death. She also called on the police to further question the businessman. Mingo questioned how a person can shoot based on suspicions. “They should hold the shooter and question he because I can’t see how you can shoot just like that… My nephew didn’t deserve to die like that,” the aunt bemoaned.
At the scene of the shooting on Friday last, police said three .32 and one 9mm-calibre spent shells were recovered.
