Security guard Rory Deegs, who was shot during the attempted robbery outside El Dorado Trading in Newtown, Kitty on Monday, says that he believes that the target of the attack, the now dead Deon Stoll, fired at him because he misidentified him as one of the robbers since he was dressed similarly at the time.
Deegs, who was shot twice, told Stabroek News yesterday that he was performing his duties inside the Lot 63 Da Silva Street, Newtown, Kitty business place when the shooting began.
“I was in the premises… I am actually securing the premises that I am at but this thing, everything happen so quickly,” he said.
He noted that due to security reasons, the modus operandi at the establishment is for the guard on duty to allow access to customers upon their arrival.
Deegs said when Stoll and his driver, Clayton Powley, arrived, a customer was being attended to and as is usual in such instances, he would inform those in line that they would need to wait and for how long.
However, in this case, he said he did not even manage to even open the “cage” to inform Stoll and Powley. Instead, he said the shooting began.
“Usually the modus operandi is that if anybody comes and you are occupied or whatever, we would tell them to hold on for like a five seconds but I didn’t even get the chance to go and… to tell them that we have someone inside the building, if they can hold on for a lil while… Two guys run out and start shooting indiscriminately,” Deegs explained.
He said while the shooting was happening, he remained indoors but tried to look out in between to see what was happening.
When the shooting stopped and the bandits departed, Deegs said he peeked out and he noticed the wounded Powley.
At this point, he didn’t know Stoll was also wounded.
“All this going on now I was lying there, trying to secure myself, looking out, trying to see, after I see that kind of vibe…so when all this finish about 5 to 6 minutes after, I try to look out like at the door, then I saw this guy Powley get hit,” Deegs recalled.
“I seh Powley come leh we go bai, you looking terrible. Leh we go to the hospital,” he added.
He noted that two residents also rushed to render assistance.
Deegs said at this point, Stoll, who was obviously still in shock, noticed his blue shirt, which was similar to what his attacker was wearing and opened fired on him.
“So the guy that got killed (Stoll), the bandit that attacked him had a blue hoodie like and I was wearing a blue jersey like, so like he mistake me for the guy. When I talking to him now (Stoll) and I seh watch this man (Powley) going down to the ground, we gah do something then is when I hear two shots rang out. When I barely like pull in a corner, so I didn’t even know I get shot but then me hand start burning and when I look at my hand, I see the big hole. I felt my neck heavy as well. When I feel my left neck, there is the warhead lodged in my neck. So I dig it out and it fell to the ground,” Deegs further explained.
He said he knew Stoll and Powley since they would visit the premises on a regular basis to transact business.
However, Deegs said he does not believe that Stoll recognised him at that point in time.
“I don’t think he recognised me at that moment in time… I think at that time the only thing that came to mind is that he was attacked by a guy with a blue jersey… he was still in shock by he see the blue jersey. That was the only colour that come to mind that he was attacked by somebody with a blue jersey so he just shot at me,” Deegs stated.
Deegs, who was shot in his neck and one of his hands, said that while he is experiencing a lot of pain he is thankful he is still alive. “…I am a trained individual in terms of weapons and whatever it is… but I never carry a gunshot wound to my body. Blood oozing from me, both areas, both wounds and I was just there being normal, calm and trying to ascertain what’s going on,” Deegs said.
The shooting erupted during an attempt to rob Stoll, who was seated in the front passenger seat of a car, PPP 7227 which was driven by Powley.
Apart from the injured trio, it is suspected that one of the bandits was also wounded by Stoll.
Was supposed to be on duty
Less than two hours after the shooting, the body of Olijah Chesney, 18, a member of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) of Lot 562 ‘D’ Field, Sophia, was found at Tucville Squatting Area with two suspected gunshot wounds.
Police sources had suspected that Chesney was one of the men who attacked Stoll and that he was killed by his accomplices. However, up to last evening it remained unclear whether the police had established any direct link between Chesney and the robbery attempt.
Several calls made by this newspaper to Crime Chief (ag) Michael Kingston for an update went unanswered.
Contacted yesterday, Staff Officer One General Five (ag) Major Greasels Hinckson, who has direct responsibility of the GDF public relations, told Stabroek News that an investigation has been launched by the army to determine whether Chesney was involved in the attempted robbery.
Hinckson did, however, confirm that at the time of Chesney’s death he was supposed to be on active duty.
She said he left base to spend the weekend home as was customary on Friday and he was scheduled to return on Monday morning but he didn’t.
Hinckson related to this newspaper that GDF will be issuing a statement on the matter.
However, up to late last night, the statement had not yet been issued.
Police spokesman Jairam Ramlakhan, in a statement on the Newtown shooting, had said enquiries revealed that Stoll and Powley had just before finished transacting business at a Sheriff Street, Campbellville location, where they collected a sum of cash.
Ramlakhan said they then proceeded to El Dorado Trading to conduct further business when the shooting unfolded. “On arrival, a motor car which was travelling behind their vehicle stopped and two men exited the car wearing caps with their faces tied with kerchiefs,” the police had said.
One of the bandits had a gun, while the other was armed with a knife.
“One with a knife approached Powley while the other approached Stoll with a handgun,” the police said before adding that the knife-wielding bandit ordered Powley to get out of the car while the other told Stoll not to draw his firearm.
However, according to the police, Powley exited the car and attempted to fend off his attacker and he was shot in one of his hands.
By this time Stoll drew his licensed firearm and he and the gunman exchanged gunfire.
The bandits then ran and reentered their car, which was driven by a male accomplice.
They made good their escape empty-handed by driving west along Da Silva Street and turned south onto Vlissengen Road.
