Two men are nursing serious wounds after gunmen opened fire on them at Sparendaam, East Coast Demerara (ECD) yesterday afternoon in what was clearly an execution attempt, though relatives said they are at a lost as to why anyone would want to kill them.
Up to press time last evening, Giovanni Leitch called ‘Joe Joe’ of Goed Fortuin, West Bank Demerara and Middle Street Sparendaam, ECD and Devon Agard called ‘Chucky’ of Goedverwagting, ECD, both aged 21, were undergoing emergency surgery at the Georgetown Public Hospital to remove bullets from their bodies.
Leitch, who sustained gunshot wounds to the chest and abdomen, was said to be more seriously injured. Agard sustained gunshot wounds to the chest, abdomen and lower back.
The police said in a press release last night that they are investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting which occurred around 15:30 hrs at Northslip Street, Sparendaam.
Investigations so far have revealed that the two victims were attacked by “a man armed with a firearm who discharged a number of rounds at them and escaped”.
A number of live rounds and spent shells have been recovered at the scene by the police, the release said.
Police officials told this newspaper that there were reports that one of the men was involved in a recent incident which ended with an attempt on his life. The other man, according to officials, seemed to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Based on eyewitness accounts, at least eight shots were fired by two gunmen at the men as they headed to a barbershop in the Plaisance area.
They told Stabroek News at the scene that the two young men were walking east along Market Street and as they neared an intersection, two men, one of whom was tall and had dreadlocks “calmly walked up and opened fire”.
After riddling the men with bullets, they said, the two gunmen calmly walked away. One fled on foot while another jumped into a waiting yellow car which was parked on the Plaisance ‘line top’.
One woman, who did not want her name mentioned, said she saw two guys running. She said she realized that something was happening because the man on foot kept running and looking back. The man was also holding one of his pants’ pockets.
She said she decided to check to see what the men were running from. “When I go I see two boys lie down flat on the ground helpless,” she said.
She said the men were bleeding profusely and she urged persons nearby to put pressure on the wounds to stop the bleeding.
When Stabroek News visited the area residents were gathered discussing the incident. Police were also there conducting their investigations.
At the hospital scores of relatives and friends flocked as word of the shooting spread. Wails later erupted. Relatives refused to speak to members of the media when approached.
Later, a woman who identified herself only as ‘Nicky’ said she was heading home when she noticed a lot of policemen in the area and was later informed that her brother, Leitch, had been shot. “All I coulda do is ask God for guidance over him and to protect him,” she said noting that she was informed that he was shot in the chest and that, Agard, a close family friend was also injured.
The woman said that when she saw her brother at the hospital he looked bad but she is keeping her fingers crossed that he will recovery from his injuries.
She said she and her brother, a mason, were very close and he had no problems with anyone.
She noted that people are saying all kinds of things about the shooting but “people must talk”. She aid she last spoke to her brother on Thursday and all appeared to be well with him.
“Me brotha ain’t got no story with nobody,” she insisted adding that she often told him “don’t tangle with friends”.
About two hours after the shooting, a man and two women turned up at the hospital. The man was overheard saying that the young men got what they were looking for but when approached by this newspaper he declined to comment.
Later, during a verbal confrontation with an aunt of Leitch, the man admitted saying what he said and told the woman she could do what she wanted before driving away in the company of the two women.
Upset relatives said they did not know the man and after noting that what he said could hold some significance, they lodged a complaint at the police outpost located at the hospital.
Up to press time last night police were no closer to finding the shooters and were still looking for the motive behind the attack.
