One man is in a critical condition at Georgetown Public Hospital after receiving multiple gunshot wounds during a confrontation between police and armed men last night. Police up to press time were still looking for two additional gunmen along George Street, Leopold Street and Bent Street.
Stabroek News understands that Devon ‘Silk’ Maclean of Diamond Housing Scheme was a member of a trio of bandits whose vehicle they were in collided with another at the corner of Bent Street and George Street, following which shots were fired. Police officers who were in the vicinity because of the unrest at the Camp Street Prison responded and additional shots were fired by both police and bandits.
At one point later in the evening police were said to have cornered two men in an abandoned building but upon further investigation it was revealed that officers were just doing a thorough search of any possible hideout locations.
The gunmen who eyewitnesses said were brandishing assault rifles fled down Leopold Street while police tried to take charge of the situation and keep citizens from invading an active crime scene. The rapid fire gunshots were first heard by employees at Stabroek News’ George Street location minutes before 10pm.
Over two dozen officers and members of the Guyana Defence Force, who were also present in the area owing to the prison unrest, were scouring the area looking for persons who fled after one of the vehicles crashed into an abandoned building. When Stabroek News arrived on the scene officers were picking up dozens of spent shells along all three streets while others who were heavily armed were investigating the inside of the crashed black Toyota Carina, registration number PPP 215.
Officers at the scene refused to comment and became hostile when Stabroek News asked about the safety of persons living and working in the area. They responded that all persons in the area needed to vacate the street as armed men were on the loose.
Eyewitnesses say that along with the bandits in the vehicle there were an additional two men who tried to flee on their motorcycle after the collision.
