Family members of 53-year-old Dexter McFarlane, who was killed in a crossfire on Friday afternoon, are calling for justice as well as for proper security measures to be implemented within the Laing Avenue neighbourhood.
When Stabroek News yesterday visited McFarlane’s home at Laing Avenue, West Ruimveldt, Georgetown, his family and friends were all gathered in the yard still trying to come to grips with the man’s death. The man’s niece, Nefta McFarlane-Wilson, said that her family is demanding justice since her uncle died innocently.
“We are trusting God that the law will take its course and our family will be given justice…we are calling for justice and the police need to do their work because my uncle lost his life innocently…he’s a hardworking man and he didn’t deserve to die like that.”
“My uncle went to work as usual and on his way back from work there was a shoot-out and unfortunately he was caught in the way and so he subsequently died,” added the woman.
Another family member who wished not to be named said that based on what was said at the crime scene by eyewitnesses, the the shoot-out started at Independence Boulevard in Albouystown between four men who are said to be involved in gangs and eventually ended at Laing Avenue where it ended in tragedy.
“It is being peddled that it was between two gangs that included four persons, two were on motorcycle and two were running…the shooting started from the Boulevard (Independence Boulevard), one of the men that were running is from the Boulevard so that’s where the shooting started and then they ran through the Front Road area and then came through second bridge (Laing Avenue) where they were still shooting and is around there through a short cut that a bullet hit Dexter when he was walking coming home.”
The family said that they were informed by the police that some suspects were apprehended. “…I’m not sure what caused the whole problem between the two groups of men but as it is right now somebody was apprehended by the police but we’re not sure how many were and who it was.”
Efforts to contact the Commander of Regional Division 4’A’, Simon McBean and Head of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) Corporate Communications Unit Mark Ramotar to confirm the capture of any of the suspects proved futile.
Meanwhile, as the family are calling for justice, they are also calling for street lights and frequent police patrols within the area. “We need proper lights in the neighbourhood and proper security. The police need to patrol here steady…the road in this area needs to be repaired because its bad and if we are to have police patrolling then it needs to be fixed,” a family member said.
Stabroek News had previously reported that McFarlane was shot and killed at about 17:00hrs on Friday during a shootout between the four young men at Second Bridge, Laing Avenue, West Ruimveldt. It was said that the now dead man had finished working that afternoon and had just stepped out a bus and was walking to go home through a short cut in the area when he was hit by a bullet.
McFarlane is survived by his wife and his 80-year-old mother, with whom he resided along with other family members.
