-were trailed by attackers
One of the two men gunned down execution-style in Campbellville early last evening received a call on his cellular phone minutes before he was killed and relatives believe it was that which led to his death.
Patrick Goodluck, 39, of Pearl, Mahaicony and Godfrey Grootfaam called ‘Mosquito,’ 29, of Beterver-wagting, East Coast Deme-rara had minutes before left a Royal Drive, Campellville address when the vehicle they were in was reportedly cornered by another and a lone gunman opened fire on them.
Stabroek News was told that the car from which the gunman exited was trailing the men and it is believed that it had earlier been parked not far from where Goodluck had gone to visit his children. As soon as the two men got into the car and headed in the direction of Stone Avenue, their assailants followed and as they were about to turn into the avenue, the gunman opened fire on them. Goodluck, the driver, lost control and ran off the road, coming to a stop in front of the Redeemer Primary School. It was then the gunman, reportedly armed with a high-powered weapon believed to be an AK-47, exited and riddled the car, shattering the windscreen in the process.
“We hear ‘bout thirty gun shots. Dem man had to dead. If you see how dem bust up dem man,” a resident said. The resident added that no one knew what really happened as they all ducked for cover upon hearing the gunshots.
When Stabroek News arrived at the scene, Goodluck was still in the driver’s seat of the car, PMM 9074, while Grootfaam was lying on the ground next to the open car door. A motorbike, GR 9249, was on its side next to Grootfaam’s body. This newspaper was told that the motorcyclist was passing and was almost caught in the crossfire but managed to escape without any injuries.
A uniformed policeman was heard relating to media workers that he was in a police vehicle driving up Stone Avenue, in the direction of where the men were killed, and observed when the shooting started at the corner of avenue and Royal Drive. The policeman said after the driver lost control of the car, the lone gunman came out and shot at the car. The lawman and a female colleague, who were both unarmed, were part of a mobile patrol conducting checks on ministerial residences. They remained at the scene after the shooting.
The car, which was being driven by Goodluck, had bullet holes on either side; one was seen near the vehicle’s trunk, several on the left side bonnet and about four on the windscreen. This newspaper understands that the shooter was on the left side of the vehicle when he opened fire. As the man fired, an investigator suggested, a wounded Goodluck attempted to turn on to Stone Avenue, lost control of the vehicle and came to a halt at the concrete bridge rail just outside the Redeemer Primary School.
A man, who was in the area at the time of the shooting, said that just after 8 pm he heard what he recognized as “rapid gunfire.” He remained where he was until the gunfire stopped, “a very short time later” and stressed that he heard more than 30 gunshots. “I am an old military man, you know, so I know what I was hearing. These gunmen were using high-powered weapons… I really don’t want to say anymore,” the man, who requested anonymity, said. The shooting occurred approximately 20 feet away from the man’s location.
Meanwhile, several attempts were made by the police to cordon the scene with tape. Despite this distressed relatives and residents pushed pass investigators who were processing the crime scene. Less than two hours after the incident, Goodluck’s bullet riddled car was towed from the scene.
Suspicious call
Prior to the attack, Goodluck had received a call on his mobile phone, which relatives believed was the call of death for him. Amidst loud wailing, a daughter of Goodluck told reporters that her father had gone to visit them, which he did regularly. The young woman, who was being comforted by other siblings, said her father, who had eight children with the youngest only celebrating her first birthday last Thursday, was chatting with them when he received the call. Grootfaam, according to some, was at the same address and had just had his hair braided. Goodluck’s daughter, and others at the scene, said they believed Goodluck was called to his death because the phone call was very suspicious.
Although Goodluck did not live in the area he was well known there as he once shared a home with the mother of his children at the very address. His daughter said her father was a carpenter but had no job for about a year now since he returned from neighbouring Barbados.
At the home of Grootfaam, his cousin Charles Todd told Stabroek News that he had called his cousin around 8 pm, but he seemed reluctant to speak at the time. “He sound like he didn’t want talk so I didn’t pressure he,” Todd said. About 20 minutes later, Todd said, he received a call from two relatives informing him that his cousin “just geh shoot up. But I don’t like dem kinda story,” Todd said, adding that a few years ago his brother was also shot and killed.
Todd said he remained at home and later one of his cousin’s ex-girlfriends, who lived in Campbellville, called and reported that Grootfaam had just been gunned down.
Todd said he and his cousin were like brothers and they shared the same home in Beterverwagting. He said that around 12:30 pm yesterday, Grootfaam said he was going to town for a while. He was expected to return home in time to attend the party of a friend, Todd disclosed.
According to Todd, his cousin would help him with his chair and table renting business. He would also travel to Suriname and while there he would work at sea, this newspaper was told.
Meanwhile, Grootfaam and Goodluck were friends, Todd said, “but me nah really know he [Goodluck],” he added.
Grootfaam was a father of a one-year-old son, who lives in Antigua. Most of the man’s other relatives live overseas, this newspaper was told.
While Goodluck was known and liked by many, others felt that he had his day coming because he was accused of the murder of a Campbellville man known as ‘Kenny,’ who was knifed to death several years ago about a stone’s throw away from last night’s incident. Goodluck was charged with the murder but was subsequently freed.
The murder of the two men comes on the heels of the execution of Mark Caesar, known as ‘Lil Mark,’ last Friday. He was shot about 15 as he stood at his usual Broad and Adelaide streets liming spot. On September 4, a car, PLL 2297, was riddled with bullets at Second Field South-East Cummings Lodge and its occupants, Steve Jupiter, his girlfriend Fiona Singh, a son, Neil Jupiter, along with Christopher Gordon and Sherwin Jerome, called ‘Dice Head.’ were all killed. These execution-style killings join the unsolved cases of Vibert Weekes and Nicholas Hoyte who were executed in January on Robb Street and in Alberttown, respectively.
(Additional reporting by Mark McGowan, Sara Bharrat and Gaulbert Sutherland)
