Police Inspector October shot dead
Tenth cop killed since April
By Kim Lucas
Police Inspector Leyland October was last night gunned down outside a shop on Russell Street, Georgetown, bringing this year’s toll of cops murdered to 10.
October’s killing followed closely on the heels of the murder of Detective Constable Feroze Bashir who was attacked by a gunman on August 27 outside the Buxton home of his pregnant girlfriend. October is the second highest rank of the force to be killed since April. The highest ranking officer was Superintendent Leon Fraser. Another policemen, Corporal Adrian London was slain in circumstances similar to October’s as he made his way home.
The 49-year-old October, a former court prosecutor, was in charge of the Police Impact Base at Brickdam Station at the time of his death.
Reports reaching Stabroek News state that October had just purchased ice cream for his children from ‘Duckie’s’ shop at Sussex and Russell Streets and was returning to his car when he was shot.
One resident told this newspaper last night that he was watching the Daily Millions draw when he heard gunshots.
“All 1 hear, ‘Blam! Blam! Blam! Blam!’ and by the time I looked out, people on the road were saying is October,” the man said.
Another resident said that as October was getting into his car, three men passed by in a vehicle, opened fire and drove away.
She said a young man quickly bundled the shot cop into his own car and rushed him to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation.
October was pronounced dead on arrival.
Shortly after the shooting, a huge crowd gathered in front of the shop, but everyone remained tight-lipped. There was a huge pool of blood in front of the entrance to the business place.
There was a power outage in the area at the time of the shooting but the shop at which October stopped was fully illuminated.
Less than an hour after he was shot, October’s lifeless body was covered and wheeled out of the hospital’s emergency treatment room to the morgue.
The targeting of policemen began after the February 23 escape of five men from the Camp Street jail.
The government has been severely critised for not doing enough to halt the crime wave.
Following the murders of policemen, the government announced that it was procuring more protective gear and weaponry for ranks. Deputy Commissioner of Police, Winston Felix recently returned from overseas after expediting the purchases.
In addition to the 10 policemen killed, the Deputy Head of the Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit, Vibert Inniss was shot dead last month.
