Five persons, including two children, yesterday sustained pellet wounds about their bodies after a GEB security guard accidentally discharged his shotgun outside Republic Bank’s Camp Street, Georgetown branch.
Up to press time last evening, the police had not issued a statement on the shooting incident and this newspaper was unable to confirm whether the security guard was still in custody.
According to persons who witnessed the incident, the security guard and a few of his colleagues visited the bank to make a deposit around 1 pm. They said the guard was sitting in a van along with the driver and another colleague when his shotgun went off. It was explained that the blast pierced the floor of the vehicle and the pellets ricocheted off the concrete below, resulting in them hitting those who were standing nearby.
Sunday Stabroek made contact with GEB’s Providence, East Bank Demerara office but was told that all the senior officers had left for the day and that another effort should be made on Monday.
Natoya Morgan, 28, who sustained a pellet wound to her buttocks, recalled that while standing outside the bank she heard a loud sound followed by a burning sensation. “I hear something go boom… [then] I feel something knack me on my right side butt and meh run to meh sista,” she recalled. The woman said that her heart “start beat fas’ fas’ fas’, like if meh wan fall down.”
She said when she lifted the shirt she was wearing, she noticed that part of her buttocks was swollen and there was blood. She said she immediately went over to the GEB vehicle and was chased away by one of the security guards even though she was trying to explain what had happened. She added that two nearby policemen on motorcycles were called to the scene.
According to Morgan, after other ranks arrived, she and the other injured persons were taken to Brickdam Police Station, where statements were taken. They were then sent to Georgetown Hospital to be seen by a doctor and to get medical certificates. Morgan did not get medical attention for her injury until last evening.
Morgan explained that from all indications the firearm went off twice. “He was pointing the gun down and like it fire off two times and it go pun de concrete and pitch and knack everybody,” she said.
She said the gun was taken away from the security guard, who was later taken to the Brickdam Police Station.
Morgan, while noting that the security guard apologized for the shooting, voiced her concern that there could have been more serious consequences. She said she didn’t accept the guard’s apology as a result and added that the police at the scene indicated to him that he shouldn’t say anything and from then on he was silent. This newspaper was unable to make contact with the other victims.
Persons who operate their trade near the bank questioned the training of the security guard and echoed Morgan’s concerns that bystanders, including his colleagues could have sustained more serious injuries.
