The police say they are investigating the murders of Zaheer Mohammed Sheriff, a 50-year-old gold miner of Byderabo Road Bartica and Donvan Washington, a 26-year-old porter of Lot 11 Seventh Avenue Bartica, which occurred at about 10:00 hrs today at Arimu Backdam, Cuyuni River, Region #7.
The killers, two masked men on a Red ATV, also reportedly carted off 102 ounces of raw gold valued at $37M and two licensed firearms (a .32 pistol and a 12-gauge shotgun) property of Sheriff.
Investigations have so far, the police say, revealed that Sheriff owned a six-inch land dredge operation at Arimu Backdam.
At about 10:00 hrs today, he washed down the mentioned amount of raw gold and left his camp with Washington on an ATV en route to Bartica.
Joel Stephen, age 39 years, who is the General Manager of Sheriff’s operation, said that about five minutes after his boss left camp, he heard several loud explosions which he suspected to be gunshots.
He went to make checks in the area and about 500 meters away from the camp Stephen found both deceased men lying in the trail with gunshot injuries about their bodies.
He also observed that both of Sheriff’s firearms and the gold were missing. He later made a report to the Bartica Police Station
Sheriff’s body was examined and the following wounds were seen: circular wound to the right side of his upper chest, a circular wound to the upper right thigh, a circular wound to the upper right arm and a circular wound to the left side of his upper back.
Washington’s body was examined and the following wounds were seen: circular wounds to the lower abdomen, left chest, left shoulder, left hand, left elbow, four circular wounds to the right thigh, two to the left thigh and one to his back.
The scene was processed and one .32 magazine with eight live matching rounds, seven 9 mm spent shells and three .32 spent shells were found.
