Police arrest suspect in Bagotstown murder

Patrick Fraser
Patrick Fraser

More than a week after 20-year-old Patrick Fraser was gunned down while liming with friends at an abandoned house in Bagotstown, East Bank Demerara, the police have arrested one suspect and are on the hunt for another.

Commander of ‘A’ Division Marlon Chapman, yesterday informed Stabroek News that acting on information received, the police arrested the suspect, who admitted to the crime during questioning.

The suspect, Chapman said, has also implicated an accomplice, who is yet to be apprehended.

A source close to the investigation yesterday related to this newspaper that information suggests that the killer/s wanted a firearm Fraser is known to have carried around.

Fraser, who is the grandson of the owner of the C&F Mall next to the Demerara Harbour Bridge, was shot two times— in his leg and abdomen— around 8.30 pm on May 9.

The incident occurred at an abandoned property located at Norton Street, popularly known as the “drug yard”.

The police in a brief statement, had said that Fraser was shot by person/s unknown whilst imbibing with friends in the yard. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the Diamond Hospital.

Residents of the area had previously reported to Stabroek News that Fraser is known to the area and would frequent the abandoned lot with friends. Investigators had initially ruled out Fraser’s death as a “hit”.

During the probe, a number of persons from the neighbourhood were questioned by the police but no useful information was obtained. Among those was a 31-year-old resident of Eccles, who rushed to the scene and transported Fraser to the hospital. The man had told the police that he and Fraser were friends.

The police had recovered a .32 spent shell, one warhead, a pair of black and orange slippers and a white Polo cap at the scene.