Investigators were working up to last evening to determine whether a motor car which was found abandoned at Peters Hall, East Bank Demerara on Tuesday night was the vehicle used to carry out Monday’s attack in front of El Dorado Trading which claimed the life of gold miner, Deon Stoll.
When contacted yesterday, Commander of Region Four (b) (Eccles – Moblissa), Senior Superintendent Kurleigh Simon told Stabroek News that acting on information received, the police went to Back Street, Peters Hall, EBD where a white Toyota 212 motor car, HC 7162 was found abandoned.
While the motor car is similar in appearance to the one used to commission Monday’s attempt robbery, Simon said it is yet to be confirmed whether it is the same vehicle.
The car, he noted has been impounded by the police as the investigation continues.
Stabroek News understands that the police were called in after residents in the area noticed two males exiting the motor car before disappearing.
The car bore what appears to be a gunshot hole in the back windshield.
Forty-four-year-old Stoll, a father of two of Baramita Avenue, Bel-Air was shot and killed on Monday morning after armed bandits attempted to rob him upon his arrival at El Dorado Trading in Newtown, Kitty to transact business.
His driver, Clayton Powley, 43, of Turkeyen, and the security guard of the business, Rory Deegs, 40, of Lot 7025 Herstelling, EBD were also injured.
An autopsy yesterday showed that Stoll died as a result of a gunshot injury to the lower abdomen.
The shooting, which saw the exchange of “rapid gunfire”, unfolded around 10.15 am at Lot 63 Da Silva Street, Newtown, Kitty.
Crime Chief (ag) Michael Kingston had informed Stabroek News that it is suspected that the bandits trailed the car, PPP 7227, which was driven by Powley, before confronting the men as they were about to enter the business establishment.
“Based on what I know for now, the persons (bandits) probably trailed the car from where they were coming from and they attempted to rob the persons. In the process, both the driver (Powley) and the passenger (Stoll) were shot,” Kingston had told Stabroek News.
He had added that Stoll returned fire and it is believed that one bandit was wounded as a result.
Deegs, who was shot twice, told Stabroek News on Tuesday that he was performing his duties inside the business place when the shooting began.
He believes that Stoll fired at him because he misidentified him as one of the robbers since he was dressed similarly at the time.
“Not related”
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, Kingston yesterday told Stabroek News that the shooting of Chesney is not related with the attempt robbery.
Information reaching this newspaper revealed that Chesney was reportedly shot during a feud over the purchase of a motorcycle.
Kingston said that one person is presently in police custody assisting with the investigation into Chesney’s murder and the police are on the hunt for two others.
Staff Officer One General Five (ag) Major Greasels Hinckson, who has direct responsibility for the GDF’s public relations, when contacted on Tuesday had told Stabroek News that an investigation has been launched by the army to determine whether Chesney was involved in the attempted robbery.
Hinckson said that at the time of Chesney’s death he was supposed to be on active duty. She said he left the 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 the GDF will be issuing a statement on the matter.
Police spokesman Jairam Ramlakhan, in a statement on the Newtown shooting, had said enquiries revealed that Stoll and Powley had just 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 re-entered 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.
