The police shot and killed the two suspects in the robbery and murder of 19-year-old Joshua Denny on Saturday evening.
The suspects were identified as Quacy Jupiter, called ‘Ding Dong,’ and David Smith called ‘Berlin.’ Jupiter was recently released from prison after serving time for armed robbery.
Police Force spokesman Mark Ramotar last night said the men were shot and killed by ranks who were on a stakeout.
In a brief statement, he said that ranks were acting on intelligence received. The information fed to the ranks indicated that the suspects were in the UG/Cummings Lodge area.
The shooting occurred in the vicinity of First and Second streets, Cummings Lodge along the University of Guyana Access Road. The suspects had managed to elude arrest in Albouystown on Friday.
Subsequent to the shooting, the police said recovered two firearms and several rounds of ammunition in the possession of Jupiter and Smith.
Residents of the community last night told Sunday Stabroek that they were unaware of what was happening until they heard gunshots ring out in the neighbourhood at dusk.
A woman told Stabroek News that upon hearing the gunshots, she hurriedly secured her children in her home and waited for the shooting to end. But even after that she did not venture outside to see what was happening.
She related that when she eventually looked out, she saw police vehicles parked in the area and others blasting sirens arriving at the scene.
A taxi driver said he was just about to turn on to the access road from Second Street when he was forced to “brakes up” as the gunfire rang out. From his recount of events, the suspects were on a motorcycle and were coming out from the GuySuCo Scheme.
He stated that from all indications there was an exchange of gunshots between the suspected bandits and police. After several minutes, he stated that the gunplay came to an end and he learnt the two men were shot and killed.
This newspaper learnt that during the course of police investigation a woman was assisting police in apprehending the man.
The woman identified the men from the surveillance footage of Denny’s murder and admitted to police that she was harbouring the men. The woman was arrested on Friday subsequent to a search for the suspects in Albouystown.
The search from Friday unearthed several items matching those in the possession of the suspects on the day of Denny’s murder.
The fatal shooting occurred hours after Denny was laid to rest yesterday afternoon.
Investigators were able to retrieve CCTV footage, which captured two suspects fleeing the scene on the motorcycle. They were described by police as “known characters.”
Jupiter, of Lot 137 Campbell Street, Albouystown, was sentenced to prison in 2019 on two counts of armed robbery. He was recently released from prison after serving a two-and-a-half year sentence.
Denny, called ‘Lion’, an electrician of Lot 2109 Nutmeg Street, Festival City, North Ruimveldt, was shot and robbed of a gold chain shortly after leaving home for work on Thursday morning.
The robbery took place around 6.30 am on Mittelholzer Street, Festival City.
Denny was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH), where he died during emergency surgery.
Denny was robbed of a gold chain, worth $170,000. His cellular phone and wallet were found in his pants pocket.
Denny left home around 6 am for work.
A resident of the area told the police that he was at home when he heard two loud explosions.
Upon looking through his window, the man said he saw Denny standing on the road, shouting that he had been shot. The man also told the police that he saw a male running from the scene and jumping onto a waiting motorcycle.
Felicia Denny, one of the dead man’s sisters, previously told Stabroek News that they were leaving home together for work. However, she said Joshua turned back and went to use the washroom. Felicia said Joshua told her he was running late and he had to meet his employer.
“….He did hurrying up because the boss man did calling he. He seh he got to go reach he (boss) by Plaza Bridge. I seh ‘Boy go long, you can’t be late for work every day,’” Felicia recounted.
She said shortly after, a resident of the area informed her that Joshua had been shot and robbed. “A Rasta man from over deh come and seh yuh brother just get rob and shot. By time I run around the corner, I see me brother on the ground,” she added
Felicia accompanied Joshua to the hospital. “I is the person who carry he to the hospital in the bus…All he saying is they rob he and shoot he and he nah go mek it. Dah is all he keep saying,” Felicia cried.
The family is calling for justice. They said Joshua had no problems with anyone.
“…Every minute somebody dead in some robbery and what the authorities doing? Nothing. They ain’t doing nothing,” a relative said.
