East La Penitence man gunned down

Investigators at the scene of the execution-style shooting
Investigators at the scene of the execution-style shooting

An East La Penitence man was gunned down last night, a short distance away from his home.

The dead man has been identified as Collin Hooper 45, of East La Penitence Dam.

A police source last night told Stabroek News that the shooting occurred at around 8.30 pm. Neighbours related to investigators they heard gunshots ringing out on the dam and investigated after it stopped.

Neighbours related to the police that they found the man with wounds to his head and upper body.

“We were inside our house and just hear the gunshots going off one after the other…we didn’t even check how much shots were fired. But when we come out we see the man lying from front of that yard (pointing to the yard). He deh done dead,” a neighbour said.

The dam where the shooting occurred is located a stone’s throw away from the East La Penitence Police Station. Police would have responded promptly but were unable to apprehend the shooter. Hooper was lying in a pool of blood when police arrived on the scene.

Neighbours told this newspaper that they are not familiar with the individual since he recently moved to the area.

The body was picked up by the Lyken Funeral Home and is currently awaiting an autopsy examination.

The police today issued the following press release on the matter:

Police are investigating the murder of Collin ‘Gun Youth’ Hooper, 45, unemployed of East La Penitence Dam which occurred about 20:30h on Monday May 20, 2019 at East La Penitence Dam by person(s) unknown.

Hooper’s body was found with several suspected gunshot injuries to the head; investigators found six spent shells of a small calibre weapon in close proximity of the body.

The deceased had several robbery charges pending before the courts; he was also wanted by the police for questioning in relation to the murder of Prince Alleyne on High Street, Georgetown on April 16, 2019.

The body of Hooper is presently at Lyken’s Funeral home awaiting a post-mortem examination.

 

No arrests at this time.

 

Investigation in progress.