Minister of Home Affairs Robeson Benn yesterday said that the motive for Sunday night execution-style shooting of gold dealer Ricardo Fagundes remains unclear.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the opening ceremony of the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) senior officers conference yesterday, Benn said that as the police investigation continues, no arrest has yet been made.
Fagundes, also known as ‘Paper Shorts’, 42, a resident of Sandy Babb Street, Kitty, was riddled with bullets by two men outside of the Palm Court on Main Street on Sunday around 10 pm.
According to the police, Fagundes was having drinks with a colleague in Palm Court when he received a call on his cell phone.
Shortly after exiting Palm Court, the police said several loud explosions were heard. Fagundes was later found lying in a pool of blood on the road. His body bore several gunshots.
An autopsy later showed that Fagundes was shot about 20 times about his body.
Sources told Stabroek News that the police recovered 30 rounds at the scene. Sixteen were from an AK-47 rifle while the other fourteen were from a 9mm gun.
Benn assured the public yesterday that efforts are being made to eradicate lawlessness particularly gun crimes in Guyana.
“We are reviewing the posture, the procedures, there are actions which should happen when there is such an event so that we mitigate, prevent and to deal with those who would get involved in those type of activity,” he said.
In the surveillance footage seen by Stabroek News, Fagundes was seen walking towards a black vehicle, which was parked in front of Palm Court.
As he approached the vehicle, two gunmen emerged from a white car parked on the eastern carriageway of Main Street, ran towards him and opened fire. After several shots, Fagundes collapsed. However, the gunmen still continued to shoot at him, running to the front of the vehicle where Fagundes lay.
Shortly after, one of the gunmen rushed back to the getaway car. His accomplice, then ran towards Fagundes, stood over him and discharged more rounds before he re-entered the waiting motorcar. The circumstances reflect that there was a `hit’ put out on Fagundes.
The car sped away along Main Street.
A car, resembling the one which was used in the shooting was found on Sunday night on fire at Swan Village on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway.
The discovery was made by members of the Soesdyke Community Policing Group, who reportedly received a call from a resident informing them that the car had been abandoned in the area.
Police are currently working to determine whether the car was indeed the same which was used in the crime.
Since the shooting, the police have been silent about the investigation.
Commissioner of Police (ag) Nigel Hoppie yesterday dodged questions from the media once again.
When approached for an update on the investigation, Hoppie indicated that he would be back in a minute.
However, upon checking, reporters subsequently noticed him walking towards the Police Officer’s Mess using a back entrance of the Officers Training Centre, Camp Street.
Benn said that as soon as information is available on the killing, it will be released to the public.
