Two bandits who invaded a family gathering at Seaforth Street, Campbellville and made off with jewellery and cell phones were fatally shot by police last night after being cornered in a schoolyard.
They were later pronounced dead at the Georgetown Public Hospital. Police this afternoon identified the two as Jamal Letlow a/k ‘Gaza’, 22 years, a fish cleaner, of John Fernandes Squatting Area, Georgetown. He was wanted by the police for armed robbery committed on Christopher Persaud, at John Fernandes Access Road, on October 25 last. The other man was identified as Shaquille Fraser, 22 years, a mason, of Better Hope, ECD and Lot 153 Lodge Housing Scheme, Georgetown.
In December 2014, Letlow was charged with stealing a gold chain valued $25,000 from a 14-year-old girl at High Street Georgetown,
`A’ Division Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner Clifton Hicken said that a gun was recovered in the Campbellville Secondary School Compound where the police and a suspect had an exchange of gunfire.
A number of cellular phones and other items were allegedly found in the possession of one of the bandits.
One of the victims of the robbery recounted the events to Stabroek News last evening even as more than a dozen others waited on the corner of Drury Lane and Sheriff Street where the men were cornered in the nearby Campbellville Secondary School.
“We had some family by us because we had a get together and all of a sudden two guys came to the gate and asked for Kevin. Someone told them nobody name Kevin live here and next thing I see they draws the guns and say to the people liming at the gate, ‘Nobody move’, “ one of the residents of the Lot 53 Seaforth Street home related to this newspaper.
“One stayed at the gate and the other one came in the yard and started searching everybody pocket and purse. He collect everybody money and chains and wallet and because the place was open, went into the house and plug out the phones that were charging and gone with it. They fired two shots in the air and ran up the road in the direction of Drury Lane,” the man added.
He said that a group from the family social gave chase after the men, who ran south out of Seaforth Street then turned left into Drury Lane, crossed Sheriff Street and continued on Drury Lane. They were screaming as they ran to alert persons that they were all robbed. A mobile police patrol which was in the area stopped and was notified and the police vehicle sped off to catch the suspects.
The police were informed that the men had scaled the fence of the St Theresa’s Catholic Church which is located at Drury Lane and Stone Avenue, Campbelliville and were hiding in there.
As they kept watch around the church yard, the police radioed for backup which promptly arrived and cordoned off the four streets that border the church and school.
Sometime after 10pm, shots rang out and ranks entered the school yard collected the shot suspect and rushed him to the Georgetown Public Hospital.
About half an hour later the other suspect fired at police and was also shot. As he lay wounded in the schoolyard a police team went into the compound and collected him where he was also taken to the GPHC, another senior police informed.
Persons at the family function said that they lost significant amounts of cash and jewellery. Overseas based Guyanese Ishall Diaram said that his gold chain worth over $200,000 was taken away from him.
Others said that their monies and cellphones were snatched away from them also.
The police this morning issued the following press release:
Two male bandits were last night shot dead by ranks of the Guyana Police Force during an exchange of gunfire, shortly after they robbed six persons at Seaforth Street, Campbellville.
Enquiries disclosed that about 20:30hrs, the victims were in a yard at lot 53 Seaforth Street, Campbellville celebrating a “Family Reunion” when the now dead bandits who are yet to be identified, whilst armed, pounced and relieved them of their valuables. They discharged several rounds into the air during the commission of the crime. As they were leaving the scene, they were pursued by a number of public spirited citizens, the victims and ranks of a police patrol. They were cornered inside the compound of the Campbellville Secondary School where they discharged several rounds at the lawmen who returned fire and fatally shot them . An unlicensed revolver with five live rounds and a spent shell were recovered next to the slain bandits along with some of the stolen articles, which included five cellular phones, a chain and cash. Several spent shells were also retrieved at the scene of the crime. The bodies are presently at the G.P.H.C Mortuary.
