The suspect in the murder of Nandy Park resident Travis Rudder, who was arrested over the weekend, was yesterday positively identified as being involved in another murder, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum has confirmed. Stabroek News understands that the man was placed on an identification parade during which he was pointed out as the person who shot Agricola resident Gladstone George dead as he sat in a minibus. That killing occurred on the evening of April 22nd, on the Agricola Public Road, East Bank Demerara.
Police had said that George’s assailant approached the vehicle and discharged several rounds then escaped. George, who was shot in the head, was subsequently pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Hospital. The shooting happened in full view of a busload of passengers.
An eyewitness had recounted that he was standing on the main road when he heard two gunshots. He said he then saw all the passengers rushing out of a packed bus to a nearby pharmacy and heard the cries of a child who appeared to have been close to the weapon.
George was later seen slumped on a seat and it appeared that he had been shot to his head, the man related. Months before George was shot and injured during an armed robbery at Middle Street, McDoom. He spent several days in hospital recovering.
The murder suspect was arrested by on-duty police ranks on Sunday night after they spotted him attempting to board a Grove/Diamond minibus in the Stabroek Market area. He was searched and unlicensed gun and matching rounds were found in his possession, police said.
The man, who is said to be one of three persons who riddled Rudder’s Nandy Park home with bullets, is also the suspect in several murders and armed robberies. Among the cases is the murder of former policeman turned minibus driver Beepat Taijram, who was killed after he resisted bandits’ demand for the gold jewellery he was wearing during an attack.
