The search for the suspect in the 2014 murder of Debra Blackman, the waitress who was shot dead at the Chinese Delicious Restaurant on D’Urban Street, came to an end on Wednesday when police arrested him at his mother’s home at Better Hope, East Coast Demerara.
A police source told Stabroek News that acting on information, the police went to the home and found the suspect, who is now confined to a wheelchair.
Police are currently questioning the man to ascertain if he is linked to any other criminal activity.
In November, 2014, police had released a surveillance footage still of the suspect committing the act but was unable to apprehend him.
Stabroek News was told that the suspect had fled to neighbouring Suriname but returned home after becoming confined to a wheelchair.
Blackman, 48, called ‘Debbie’ of Critchlow Circle, Tucville, Georgetown, sustained a single shot to the head at the restaurant, which is located between Haley and Hardina streets.
Blackman’s family believed that robbery was the sole motive for her murder. Attempts to contact the family for comment yesterday were unsuccessful.
Based on the recorded footage seen by this newspaper, at least one camera captured clear images of the shooter and two men who appeared to be his accomplices.
The footage showed a young man, dressed in a grey t-shirt, dark coloured pants and a red cap, entering the restaurant and standing by the counter. He was the shooter. The man remained standing at the counter and can be seen constantly glancing around. Though he was wearing the cap, at several points his face can be clearly seen.
Seconds after the shooting the man was seen walking out of the restaurant and he subsequently jumped onto a CG motor cycle which sped off.
Police had been using the image of the suspect since 2014 to capture the suspect.
