A bandit was early yesterday morning shot dead by a licenced firearm holder after he and an accomplice attempted to break into a Diamond, East Bank Demerara home.
Stabroek News was told that the incident occurred about 2:15 am yesterday at a residence, located at Fifth Avenue, Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara, which belongs to a miner whose name was only given as “Rupesh”.
The suspected bandit who was only clad in a three-quarter pants, and had a black vest tied around his neck, was shot twice in the neck.
He was transported to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre by the police where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
A 27-year-old West Ruimveldt resident, suspected to be his accomplice, was arrested in the vicinity of the crime scene, and is presently assisting with investigations.
The Guyana Police Force in a statement on the incident said that investigations revealed that “Rupesh” was awoken by a loud noise coming from the lower flat of his house. Upon investigation, he saw two males, one of whom was armed with a handgun, attempting to gain entry via a southern door of the house.
According to the police, an alarm was raised during which the miner discharged his firearm in the direction of the bandits. One man was hit, and he subsequently fell to the ground, while his accomplice who was armed with the handgun, managed to escape by scaling the fence.
“Rupesh” when contacted by this newspaper was reluctant to disclose any information surrounding the incident, citing security reasons. He however described the present crime situation in the country as, “very upsetting.”The incident was reported to the police and ranks of a mobile patrol responded promptly.
The dead man’s body is currently at the Lyken Newburg Funeral Home, and up to last evening no one had turned up to identify the remains.
When Stabroek News visited the community yesterday, residents were tightlipped about the incident. One man, who wished not to be named, said he and his family were asleep when they were awoken by the sound of gunshots, and fearing for their lives, they remained in their home.
