Andrew Newyear, one of the bandits who was shot by the police after carrying out a series of robberies on Thursday morning, has succumbed at a city hospital.
Stabroek News was reliably informed that Newyear died while receiving medical attention at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPH) on Thursday night.
Newyear was among four bandits who were arrested by the police following a shootout. One of his alleged accomplices, Rawle Franklin, was also wounded. He remains hospitalised. The other two suspects, Hamza Samuels and Emmanuel Hale, are in police custody.
The police had said the four men abducted taxi driver Joshua Singh after hijacking his uncle’s car, PSS 2705, which he was operating. Singh was rescued from the vehicle’s trunk by the police.
The police in a statement had said ranks receiv-ed a report around 02.59hrs on Thursday about a robbery committed on Lamaha Street, George-town by individuals in motorcar, PSS 2705.
As a result, ranks from Region 4A anti-crime patrols were alerted and they observed the vehicle along the Agricola Public Road, East Bank Demerara.
The patrol attempted to intercept the car but the driver sped away. The police said the car was pursued by the anti-crime patrol. On Hunter Street, approaching Mandela Avenue, the car crashed into a barrier and came to a halt.
The suspects were then seen exiting the car. They fled the scene after which loud explosions, suspected to be gunshots were heard from their direction.
According to the police, a rank discharged a round in the same direction after which other anti-crime patrols arrived. A search was carried out in the area and the suspects were seen running. Gunshots were also heard.
Franklin, who is known to the police, was found lying on the northern parapet while Newyear was in the yard. They were escorted to the GPH for medical attention. Hale and Samuels were found hiding in the yard.
After the suspects were nabbed, police searched the car and found Singh locked in the trunk.
Singh was questioned by the police and he provided an account of what transpired.
He related to the police that he was seated in the driver’s seat of the car when he was approached by three suspects and held at gunpoint. The men ordered Singh to exit the car.
In fear for his life, the police said, Singh complied. He was ordered into the trunk of the car. Singh further told the police that the car then drove off and later stopped and he heard talking before it continued on. He said he later heard the car something and thereafter he heard loud explosions suspected to be gunshots, the police said.
Police recovered a 9mm pistol along with a magazine containing 3 live 9mm rounds, eight cellular phones, a laptop computer and a purse.
