Almost two months after contractor Peter Gonsalves was fatally shot and robbed of his XR motorcycle in front of a Kitty bar, the police have arrested the alleged shooter who has since confessed to the crime.
Speaking to Stabroek News yesterday, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum confirmed that ranks from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Major Crimes Unit arrested the suspect on Wednesday afternoon.
The suspect has been identified as a 25-year-old resident of Sophia.
Blanhum said as the investigation continues, a case file will be compiled and sent for legal advice on the way forward in the matter.
Gonsalves, 60, of Pere Street, Kitty was shot and killed around 9.45pm on December 7, 2020 when he was attacked by two men on a motorcycle.
The attack occurred in front of the Red Bar at Garnett Street, Newtown, Kitty.
The police had said that Gonsalves was attacked by two men while proceeding west along Garnett Street on his motorcycle, a black and white Honda XR motorcycle, bearing registration number CJ 600 and valued at $450,000.
One of the suspects, who was armed with a handgun, shot Gonsalves several times, causing him to fall to the ground. The bandit escaped on Gonsalves’ motorcycle.
One of Gonsalves’ workers had been his pillion rider at the time of the attack and he escaped unhurt
An autopsy revealed that Gonsalves died as a result of multiple gunshot injuries.
At the time of the shooting, Gonsalves and his worker were reportedly on their way to purchase cigarettes. However, as they stopped in front of the bar, the two bandits on the motorcycle pulled up alongside them and launched the attack.
Gonsalves was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency medical technicians.
Days after the shooting, former murder accused Kacey Heyliger was arrested and subsequently charged with the murder of Gonsalves. He is currently on remand.
Stabroek News was reliably informed that during questioning, the suspect allegedly provided investigators with a detailed description of the events which took place before and during the attack.
He also took the ranks to Kuru Kururu, where the stolen XR motorcycle was recovered. The motorcycle colour was changed from white to black.
According to information reaching this newspaper, the suspect told detectives that on the night in question, his accomplice telephoned him and told him that he would be coming to meet him at his house since he needed to get an XR motorcycle.
The suspect explained that his accomplice arrived on a motorcycle and informed him that they would have to rob someone of the motorcycle which he needed.
As such, the suspect added that he and his accomplice joined a motorcycle. He said his accomplice allegedly provided him with a gun and instructed him that if anyone resists during the act, he must shoot.
The suspect, this newspaper was told, further related that he and his accomplice made several trips around Sophia leading to Kitty where they spotted Gonsalves riding.
He said they targeted Gonsalves and followed him until they reached Garnett Street.
Whilst there, he noted that Gonsalves stopped in the vicinity of Red Bar. As such, he said he and his accomplice rode up alongside him after which he got off the motorcycle and held onto Gonsalves.
The suspect went on to explain that at this point he whipped out the gun and discharged a round at Gonsalves.
He said he attempted to escape with Gonsalves’ XR motorcycle, but Gonsalves’ pillion rider held onto him causing him to discharge another round in Gonsalves’ direction.
He said he then managed to ride away with Gonsalves’ XR motorcycle and went to Sophia.
The suspect related that later the said night, he met his accomplice, who collected the stolen motorcycle and the suspected murder weapon from him.
A few days later, he said his accomplice gave him $40, 000 and told him that he had sold the XR motorcycle.
