Three persons have been confirmed dead after they were shot by plain clothes policemen this morning in what Crime Chief Seelall Persaud said was a “shoot-out” with bandits.
The incident occurred around 11 am at Premniranjan Place, Prashad Nagar. Two of the dead have been identified by hospital officials as Tony Ogle and Leon Gittens. The third is unidentified.
Persaud when contacted said that he was not in possession of all the details but said that the information he received was that police were involved in a shoot-out with bandits. He said that he could not confirm fatalities but knew that the ranks were on the ground investigating.
Reports from residents differed from that of the police.
According to one man, four men arrived in a black motor car and three exited. He said that as the men were walking into the yard two private cars with men later identified as plain clothes ranks drove up. The three men were apparently ordered to stop and two were cornered as they fled behind the house.
The resident said thereafter he heard gunshots.
Ranks were later seen with a third man who they ordered to lie on the ground. Based on the accounts of residents the three men were unarmed.
The police in their version of the events said this afternoon:
“During this morning, Wednesday February 06, 2013, acting on intelligence garnered which indicated that some persons had planned to carry out a robbery on a residence owned by a miner at Premiranjan Place, Prashad Nagar, Georgetown, police ranks staked out the building.
“At about 1005h. three men, two of whom were armed with firearms, entered the premises. Upon being challenged by the police, the armed men opened fire on the ranks who returned fire, hitting all three of the men.
“The injured men were taken to the GPHC where one of them was pronounced DOA, while the other two succumbed while receiving medical attention.
“A .357 Magnum revolver with 2 live rounds and a spent shell, along with a .32 Taurus pistol with 9 live rounds and 3 rounds that had snapped were recovered by the police.
“One of the men has so far only been identified by the call name “Mac”, while the other two have been identified as Tony Ogle called “Skin Teeth”, 39 years, of Calendar Street, Albouystown; and Leon Gittens, 24 years, of Hill Street, Albouystown.
“Tony Ogle was presently before the court on two charges of robbery under arms, discharging loaded firearm and possession of firearm without licence. Leon Gittens was also before the court on a charge of break and enter and larceny.
“Investigations are continuing.”