The police are pursuing two suspects in connection with the shooting of Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) Company Secretary Jacques Foster, who was wounded in an attack on Thursday night at Montrose, East Coast Demerara (ECD).
Foster, 44, was shot once to his right hand during the attack, which unfolded around 7pm along Broad Street, Montrose.
The police said Foster, who is a licensed firearm holder, returned fire, after which his attacker escaped.
Foster was taken to the Woodlands Hospital for treatment and was subsequently discharged.
Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum yesterday told Stabroek News that an investigation has been launched and while no arrest had yet been made, the police are pursuing two suspects.
Blanhum said investigators are in possession of CCTV footage which captured the suspects arriving at the scene on a motorcycle.
“Investigators obtained CCTV footage and are pursuing two suspects, who went to the location on a motorcycle, committed the act and then rode off in an eastern direction on the public road,” he said.
The police, in a press release, yesterday said investigations revealed that Foster left his Brickdam office in his vehicle and travelled homeward.
As he arrived at Montrose and turned north into Broad Street, the police said that he noticed a man, who was “standing about fifteen feet away from the corner facing east and appear[ed] to be urinating.”
The statement added that as Foster drove past, the man pointed the gun in his direction before discharging a round.
Foster subsequently discharged two rounds and drove home. He was later escorted to the hospital.
When Stabroek News visited the injured man’s home yesterday, his wife, who wished not to be named, said that at this time, the family could only speculate as to what might have led to the attack.
She said Foster did not have any grievance with anyone.
“We can only speculate at this time… but he has no grievance with anybody,” the woman said.
When asked whether they believed that the attack was linked to his job, she said, “That’s speculation too. It may be, maybe not….At work, he does what he is supposed to do.”
The woman noted that from all indications, it appears as though the suspect/s had been aware of Foster’s movements.
A source told this newspaper that during his journey home, Foster reportedly noticed that he was being trailed by someone on a motorcycle. As a result, he had his licensed firearm at “hand reach” before the attack.
The source further said the attack may have been part of an attempted robbery since Foster reportedly had valuables in his possession.
Meanwhile, a resident of the area, who also asked not to be named, said she was in her bed when she heard gunshots. “I hear the thing, like three shots, but it didn’t sound near at all and I told my husband that sound like gunshot but he told me is not that because I think he didn’t want to get me scared,” the woman said, while adding that it was raining at the time.
