A young mechanic was shot dead on Monday while at a friend’s house in `B’ Field, Sophia.
The deceased, Jaleel Leow, 21, of Dennis Street, Campbellville, was killed around 5.50 pm in an attack carried out by two men.
Up to last evening, the police were still searching for the suspects, known as ‘Big John’ or `Double Clip,’ and ‘Brainer.’
The police reported that Leow was among a group of persons hanging out with a female shopkeeper at her Sophia residence. They say the suspects accosted the woman and one of them, who was armed with two cutlasses, asked “Is problem you want?”
The suspects then attacked, shooting Leow four times before escaping on their bicycles. Another person, Brandon Smith, was also injured in the attack and treated for his injury.
An eyewitness, who asked not to be named, told Stabroek News “Big John” declared, “We come fuh war with y’all!”
She noted that when he was asked what he meant, his accomplice, who was armed with two cutlasses, said “We come fuh problem.”
She further disclosed that the deceased, who at the time of the incident was in the yard, replied, “If y’all want problem, we want problem to.”
Moments after, she witnessed ‘Big John,’ who she said was shirtless, pull out a gun and run into the yard towards Leow. He was shot four times.
She added that Smith, was also shot. In a bid to save his own life, Smith ran from the scene since the suspect was also aiming at him.
When asked if the deceased and the injured man had any unresolved issues with the suspects, the woman explained that Smith was an eyewitness to his brother’s murder last year.
In March of last year, Kevin Campbell was allegedly killed by a 13-member gang after he managed to remove two men who had entered his yard and attacked his brother, Smith.
It was reported then that the two suspects later returned with 11 others, armed with weapons. According to a police report, six of the men made their way into the home of Campbell and wounded him, causing him to collapse.
Campbell was picked up in an unconscious state and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) by neighbours but later succumbed to his injuries.
The witness said a nephew of ‘Big John’ was linked to the killing and has since been on the run.
She was of the belief that the man’s intention is to get rid of all eyewitnesses so there is no evidence linking his nephew to the crime. Leow was also a friend of Campbell.
Two men, Kaprese Nobrega, also known as Kaprese Richmond, an 18-year-old mechanic of “C” Field, Sophia, and 26-year-old Shay Carter, also known as ‘Shawn,’ of “B” Field, Sophia, were jointly charged with the murder of Campbell.
