Pandemonium broke out at the Georgetown Hospital yesterday after word spread of the shooting on Middle Street that claimed five lives.
When Stabroek News arrived at the institution shortly after 3 pm, the lifeless remains of Lance Corporal Pantlitz had just arrived and dozens of persons including police officers had gathered expressing shock at the incident.
One policewoman was heard remarking that she had seen him just moments before he was killed. Tears and grief were evident on the faces of some of the ranks.
Relatives of the man were distraught. Relatives were very emotional when approached by this newspaper but managed to say that the father of two, ages 11 and three years was based at Eve Leary and was a member of the force for the last 14 years.
Close to an hour later a police vehicle came racing into the compound with the lifeless remains of another policeman. Many flocked the area close to the entrance to the Emergency Unit to get a glimpse of the body. The rank who was identified as Lance Corporal Forde was dressed in a khaki TSU uniform and his shirt was pulled up over his head. This newspaper was later told that he sustained a gunshot wound to the head and he was pronounced dead on arrival. It was noticeable that the rank was not wearing any bullet proof vest or combat helmet – protective gear that TSU ranks usually wear.
Sometime later another police vehicle came, this time with two bodies. One of a woman identified as a taxi service dispatcher Vanessa Williams and an elderly man Hugh Rowland who was clad in dark-coloured clothing and long boots.
Both bodies were covered in blood and it appears as though the woman sustained the most serious injuries. They were both pronounced dead. Relatives of the man arrived at the hospital shortly after. A woman identified as the man’s wife collapsed and had to be revived.
While this newspaper was at the hospital gunshots could still be heard.
Words started circulating that the gunman, Deryck Khanai had shot himself and his body was being prepared to be brought to the hospital. The bodies of the quartet was later placed in an ambulance at the East Street entrance to the hospital and transported to the morgue. This was to prevent the crowd from obstructing the transport of the bodies.
As word came that the body was on its way, many persons flocked the hospital compound. Shortly after about several police vehicles with heavily armed policemen drove into the compound.
Ranks spent about ten minutes trying to push back the crowd which by then had doubled in size as many pushed to get to a good vantage position to see the body when it arrived. When the pickup truck with the man’s body arrive, police could do little to stop persons from running forward. A rank even drew his weapon but this did not work.
This newspaper noticed that a black bag was tied around the shooter’s face. A rag was thrown over it.
