-two guns used
Police were up to late last night still interrogating several suspects following the attack where a policeman was killed and two others injured by gunmen on Saturday night.
“We have some persons assisting us with investigations… what I can tell you is that at least two different types of guns were used… we will continue to follow every lead until we find the person or persons responsible” a senior police officer told Stabroek News last evening.
Efforts to contact acting Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud proved futile while the mobile and land phone numbers for the Police Public Relations Officer Ivelaw Whitaker rang out. Divisional Commander (A Division) Josiah had referred to this newspaper to Whittaker who he said had “all the information.”
The police source confirmed that at least two guns were used in the assault that left Corporal Romain Cleto dead. Spent 9 MM and 7.62 MM shells have been recovered from the scene outside the Bank of Baroda, Avenue of the Republic and Regent Street the source told Stabroek News.
Cleto, who is attached to the Brickdam Police Station, was pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Hospital. Constables Randy Daly, 20, was shot in his left arm, and Anil Rajersaud, 28, was injured after a lone gunman opened fire on their patrol vehicle on Avenue of the Republic between Regent and Charlotte streets, moments after the ranks noticed a suspicious number plate on a motor car Saturday evening.
Stabroek News later learnt that some time after 10pm on Saturday the police blocked off a section of D’Urban Street after they received information about a suspect who had been identified.
The car with the suspicious plate in which the gunman was an occupant was found abandoned on the East Coast some time after the shooting, sources told this newspaper.
The double cabin dark blue pick-up that the ranks were travelling in told the tale of the assault that they endured. There were as many as ten bullet holes to be seen, mostly in the side of the vehicle and the bonnet. Ranks were later seen checking the vehicle which was parked in the hospital compound, and it was evident that there was also damage to the engine.
Assistant Commissioner Responsible for Operations, George Vyphuis, told reporters at the hospital moments after exiting the emergency room, that the police patrol vehicle was proceeding on Avenue of the Republic when ranks observed a white car in front with a tampered number plate. Vyphuis said that the ranks gave chase behind the car and turned onto Charlotte Street then into Avenue of the Republic.
He said that the car then stopped and someone came out of the car allegedly armed while the policemen exited their vehicle. According to him, it was at this time that the person opened fire on the policemen.
At the time he spoke to reporters, he indicated that police roadblocks had been set up and he said that the police would ensure that the persons who are responsible for the crime are caught.
Persons who were in the area at the time of the shooting recalled hearing a hail of bullets before seeing a crowd of persons running in the direction of the Avenue of the Republic. One woman said that she was so afraid that she just laid low. She said that everything happened on the Avenue of the Republic.
