Dead bandit Anthony Taylor and Plaisance robbery victim Troy Collymore were killed by bullets from the same gun, according to Crime Chief Seelall Persaud, who said yesterday that the weapon is linked to fugitive Tyrone ‘Cobra’ Rowe.
Persaud told Stabroek News yesterday that ballistic tests conducted on the warheads removed from the men’s bodies revealed that they were from the same .45 calibre firearm. When asked if the weapon was linked to any other crime scene, he said it was “a firearm linked to Cobra.” There has been no further development in the investigations into the August 5 robbery.
According to the police version of the events, around 9.45 pm, Collymore and overseas-based Guyanese Noel Phillips and Chandrika Datt were chatting in front of a drugstore owned by Datt. Datt left to close the store after selling an item to a customer. At this point, a gunman entered and held him up while Taylor, called ‘Bow Wow,’ and another accomplice accosted Phillips and Collymore outside. The armed man took away a quantity of jewellery along with eight laptop computers from Datt, while his accomplices took away jewellery and an undisclosed sum of cash from Phillips. “During the robbery rounds were discharged which resulted in Taylor being shot and killed.” Phillips was shot in his right arm and chest, Collymore was shot in the head, and Clyde Harris, also of Plaisance, who was in the vicinity, was shot in his left jaw, the police said. The two other perpetrators escaped.
Days after the incident, Persaud had explained that the bandits unleashed a volley of gunfire after they struggled with some of the victims whom they had recognised. Police have said that Cobra might have been one of the robbers and that Taylor was a key figure in his gang.
Four persons were held for questioning but have since been released on station bail.
