Otis James, the New York-based man who was shot to his chest at Parfait Harmonie, West Bank Demerara on Wednesday, is still hospitalised and plans are being made to fly him to his homeland for specialised treatment.
James, 46, a metropolitan bus driver for New York City was shot to the left side of his chest at point-blank range around 8 pm. The bullet exited through the right shoulder, leaving a gaping wound.
A relative told this newspaper yesterday that the doctors were waiting on his condition to stabilise before granting permission for the man to travel. He had only arrived in the country the day before the shooting took place.
He was first taken to the West Demerara Regional Hospital where he was treated before being transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) in an ambulance.
A brother-in-law, Dwayne Cameron had told this newspaper that James stopped in for a casual visit at his home. While “gaffing,” he said, James mentioned that someone was coming to pick him up.
Shortly after, he received a call on his cell phone and heard a car tooting. After James went out and locked the gate, Cameron said, he heard a loud sound, “pow!” as if a “tyre explode.”
Just then he heard the man’s nephew using expletives and shouting “…Otis don’t deserve this.”
He rushed to the scene and saw the injured man lying on the ground.
“The first thing he said was, ‘take me to the best hospital [in the country]’ and to ‘call the American Embassy.’”
Another man, Chris, who also said he was a brother-in-law, told this newspaper that James had returned to Guyana last year, the first time after 30 years, for his mother’s funeral. He also said he wanted to stay connected to the family and was planning to hold a party for everyone.
