A Route 42 minibus driver was killed yesterday morning during a “shootout” with the police who said they were trying to apprehend him and an accomplice in relation to suspected stolen items they had in their vehicle at Golden Grove, East Bank Demerara (EBD).
The dead man has been identified as Kevin Andries, 35, a father of one of Lot 256 Grove Housing Scheme, EBD.
Deputy Director of the Guyana Police Force’s (GPF) Corporate Communications Unit, Stan Gouveia yesterday confirmed the shooting which took place around 2.30 am.
According to a police report, ranks were on mobile patrol duty on the East Bank of Demerara when they responded to a report via the radio communication network.
The report, the police said was that motor vehicle, bearing registration plate PVV 5380 contained suspected stolen items.
The said vehicle which was occupied by Andries and another person was subsequently seen in Diamond, EBD and was pursued by the ranks.
“The suspect vehicle sped away into an access street at Golden Grove, EBD, where two men exited, one of whom opened fire on the police,” the statement explained.
As such, the police said the ranks returned fire wounding Andries. He was taken to the hospital where he succumbed while receiving medical attention. The other person in the bus escaped.
Police recovered a .32 spent shell. An investigation has been launched and the motor vehicle was impounded as part of the probe.
Residents of the area yesterday protested the killing of Andries by blocking a section of the East Bank Public Road at Grove. The road was subsequently cleared.
At the home of the dead man, family members who had gathered said they had not received any word from the police as of yesterday afternoon on Andries’ death.
They said someone who is known to the family telephoned them and informed them that Andries had been taken to the hospital with a gunshot wound.
When they arrived, the family members said they were not even allowed to see Andries’ body.
According to the family, they last saw Andries on Sunday after he returned home from an outing with his daughter. They said he later left and went out but did not informed anyone where he was heading.
What transpired?
Andries’ sister, Alana Andries yesterday told Stabroek News that the family is seeking closure. She said they are calling on the police to provide them with details as to what exactly transpired leading up to Andries’ death.
“We just need an answer to know what transpire. That’s all we asking the police for. What transpired? We seeing it was some robbery. Then we hearing they chase he, then he had a vehicle with ten flat-screen TV. Is a set ah fabricated story that doesn’t make sense,” Alana said.
She said the family has a number of questions surrounding the incident. “Like where it happen? Where is the scene of this thing? What is the cause?” Alana questioned.
In search of answers, Alana said she and other relatives visited the police station yesterday.
“All they saying, they going to call. We just want to know what transpire. It got a CID (Criminal Investigation Department rank) come from town. He seh that he trying fah get lil information, he ain’t
getting no information. He seh give me yuh numba I will call. We still waiting on a call,” Alana stressed.
“Since this incident happen no police ain’t come. Probably Kevin is some animal in the bush and he ain’t got family. We not saying Kevin is a good boy. Kevin didn’t do this or do that. We wanna hear your side of the story. Why you not coming to us and tell us what transpired? What are you covering up,” Alana further questioned.
“….All we want know is what happen so we can get closure. We don’t want to jump the gun, we don’t want to get violent, we don’t want to say the police do this. Story have two sides. We need to hear the police side,” Alana said.
One of Andries’ aunts, Staye Whittaker said the police behaviour towards the family is unacceptable.
“I want to know if this is the way the Guyana Police Force operates…Are we animals that the Guyana Police Force can’t come and tell the family what happen….Tell we something…People got to be taking us places and telling we look, this is he blood, this is he this. Nonsense,” Whittaker said.
While the police yesterday described Andries as a “known character”, his family said he was never convicted for any crime.
They said the charge/s that he might have faced in the past were all traffic-related offences.
Presently, two other killings by the police are being investigated.
In May, the police fatally shot robbery accused, Peter Headley. Just last month, Dartmouth businessman, Orin Boston was shot and killed in his home by a police officer during an anti-crime operation.
To date, neither of these two policemen has been charged.
