Jermaine Simon, the Agricola resident who was shot in the head on Tuesday evening succumbed yesterday morning and police are hunting for the suspect whose abode went up in flames just after midday yesterday.
Dead is twenty-four years old Simon of Romulus Street, Agricola, East Bank Demerara (EBD). He was rushed to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre and later transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) where he died around 3:15 am yesterday while receiving medical attention.
The Guyana Police Force had issued a bulletin earlier this year for Simon who was wanted for questioning into the murder of Ryan Sooklall which occurred on March 01, 2015, at Providence, EBD.
Sooklall, 19, was shot on Sunday, March 1, in what is believed to be an act of retaliation, while he was drinking with a friend at a shop at Parker Street, Providence.
Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum told Stabroek News yesterday that the police are in receipt of information as it pertains to the identity of the suspect and will be issuing a wanted bulletin for him shortly. “We are pursuing the suspect”, Blanhum said.
The suspect was identified as Trevor Amsterdam called `Souje’ by relatives of the dead man.
Yesterday, at the Bagotstown, EBD home of Jermaine Simon’s grandmother, a number of relatives gathered including his mother, Nicola Simon. The grieving woman told this newspaper that on Tuesday evening at around 20:30 hours, Jermaine left his Agricola home where he resided with his wife on a bicycle to check on his grandmother when tragedy struck. She explained that her son was shot once to the forehead in the presence of herself and a number of other family members who were liming on Norton Street.
According to Nicola, as her son approached the fence of the suspect, he was shot and immediately fell off of his bicycle. He was left lying sprawled on the ground, bleeding profusely while his relatives were helpless as they were kept at bay by the gunman.
The suspect, according to relatives has two broken feet and was walking with crutches at the time he committed the act and he did not leave the scene immediately. He called someone and stated what he had done after which he made good his escape by foot through the backlands. He was picked up later by a car, relatives of Jermaine related.
The grieving mother admitted that her son had a criminal record and even an old grievance with his alleged killer but doubted that this could have led to his death since it was years ago and had
already been dealt with by the police.
She said it was earlier this year while Jermaine was residing in Agricola that his house in Bagotstown was hit by a channa bomb by a member of the gang of which the suspect is also a member. This had caused Jermaine to move permanently to Agricola, she noted.
Reports state that the suspect is part of a gang.
An aunt of Jermaine also related to this newspaper that she believes that her nephew’s death was as a result of jealousy since he had recently “got up” in life. Others indicated that the incident did not end after they returned from the hospital yesterday morning since they were confronted by another gunman and were forced to run.
Nicola is calling for justice for her son’s death. “I want justice because my son go through a lot with these people. Them wrong deal meh son right through”, the mother said.
Simon owned and operated a game shop in the Bagotstown area and was also known for holding Barbeques every weekend.
Fire
Meanwhile, Marlon Trim, brother of the suspect, Amsterdam was yesterday afternoon seeking shelter at his neighbour’s house since his Lot 34 Norton Street, Bagotstown, EBD home went up in flames just after midday yesterday. The fire is believed to have stemmed from the death of Simon.
The suspect was involved in an argument with Trim and his wife after he had allegedly shot Simon and was asked to leave the premises where he occupies the bottom flat.
According to Trim, the fire started around 12:15 hours yesterday. He said at that time he was having a rest with his two daughters, 9 and 6, when he felt heat coming from the flooring. As a result, he looked through the window and saw thick smoke starting to engulf the building and was left with no other option but to grab his two daughters and run to safety.
The Guyana Fire Service responded quickly to the blaze and managed to save the house from burning completely. Trim estimated his losses to be in the millions since the house which he occupied with his family for some decades was fully furnished.
