The alleged bandit who was fatally shot by a licensed firearm holder on Sunday, at Belvoir Court, Georgetown during an attempted robbery was wanted for questioning in several robberies which occurred in ‘A’ Division, according to Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum.
Stabroek News learnt that the man who is known to police had given several alias and different places of abode when he was previously taken into police custody.
Police, in a statement issued yesterday, said, “The deceased suspect in the Belvoir Court, Blygezigt Gardens shooting was today identified by relatives as Ray Goulding, 32 years of La Parfait Harmonie, West Bank Demerara, Albouystown, Georgetown and Sparendaam, East Coast Demerara.”
This publication was reliably informed that he was positively identified by an uncle at the Lyken Funeral Home.
Stabroek News had reported yesterday that the man was identified as Alton Bowen, a taxi driver of Independence Boulevard, Albouystown, Georgetown. However, family members confirmed he also went by the name Alton Goulding and not Bowen.
Police Commander of ‘A’ Division Clifton Hicken told Stabroek News that police were able to identify the man after processing his fingerprints through the system.
In 2016, Goulding was questioned by the police in relation to firearms and ammunition.
Yesterday efforts made to contact his family proved futile.
It is believed that a car carrying a group of men was trailed to Belvoir Court, by a car carrying a group of bandits. One of the men was dropped off at Belvoir Court and after he entered his yard, the bandits confronted those remaining in the vehicle.
“The bandit then came out with a gun in his hand and seeing him, the guys in the car reversed in an attempt to escape,” a relative of the man who was dropped home in Belvoir Court recounted. As they were trying to escape, the bandit opened fire at the vehicle hitting the driver in his elbow. At this point, the licensed firearm holder, who was sitting in the back seat, opened fire resulting in Goulding being shot.
On arriving at the scene police recovered a .32 pistol which allegedly belonged to the now dead man, along with seven .32 spent shells and a cellular phone.
Goulding’s alleged accomplices fled the scene subsequent to the exchange of gunshots. Police have not been able to arrest anyone else as yet.
