LaShawn Lewis, who remains unable to walk after being wounded in a shootout at La Penitence Market last month, was yesterday charged with the attempted murder of ex-policeman Teon Allen, called ‘Spoil Child,’ and remanded to prison.
Lewis, a porter at Banks DIH, was not required to plead to the indictable charge, which alleges that on October 5th, 2019, while in the company of others at La Penitence Market, with intent to commit murder, he discharged a loaded gun at Allen.
The charge was read by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
Attorney Gordon Gilhuys, in his application for bail, told the court that his client, who is from Central Amelia’s Ward, Linden, knew nothing about the allegations against him and was shot by an unknown person during a shootout at La Penitence market. Further, he said, upon arriving at the scene on the said date, police did not find a firearm in his possession.
Gilhuys revealed that Lewis sustained a gunshot wound in his spinal area and was only discharged yesterday from a private hospital. Lewis, he said, is unable to walk.
Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield objected to bail, citing the serious nature of the allegation and the fact that a firearm was used during the commission of the crime. Further, he said, Lewis is the prime suspect in a murder and attempted murder offence, which occurred on September 28th at Amelia’s Ward, Linden. These matters, he said, involved the use of firearms.
Mansfield requested a short adjournment, while saying that based on advice that he received from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), it is likely that police would instituting a joint charge against Lewis and Renard Caesar, who was last month also charged with the attempted murder of Allen during the same attack. The Chief Magistrate remanded Lewis to prison and adjourned the matter until November 4th.
At Caesar’s arraignment, police had said Allen was purchasing vegetables at La Penitence Market when a black car drove by and one of the occupants pointed at him. According to the prosecutor, three persons, including Caesar, who was armed with a gun, exited the car and discharged several rounds at Allen, who sought refuge after which Caesar and his two accomplices proceeded to escape.
The shooting was subsequently reported to the Criminal Investigation Department after which several checks were made at Caesar’s home. However, the police were unable to arrest Caesar and a wanted bulletin was issued for him. Caesar later turned himself in at the Mackenzie Police Station. He was charged on October 22nd.
On the day of the shooting this newspaper was told that Lewis and two accomplices exited a vehicle in the vicinity of Twins Pharmacy and they allegedly opened fire on a man. Their alleged target managed to escape but not before returning fire and hitting Lewis, who was left lying on the roadway for a while before the police arrived at the scene and he was transported to the Georgetown Public Hospital.
