Dethiel Chimezie, the perpetrator of last Thursday’s attack outside of State House has regained consciousness and efforts are being made by the police to question him.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an event on Tuesday, Crime Chief, Wendell Blanhum said that the police were informed that Chimezie had been taken off of the ventilator.
As such, he said investigators probing the attack were making arrangements to interview him. As of yesterday afternoon, it remains unknown if the police were able to obtain any information from Chimezie.
Contacted for an update yesterday, Blanhum would only say that the investigation is ongoing and an update will be given to the media at the “appropriate” time.
He said that divulging any details at this point can compromise the police investigation.
Chimezie, a 25-year-old Nigerian national and State House guard, Telon Perreira, who bore the brunt of the attack are both patients at the Georgetown Public Hospital.
Perreira is conscious but his condition is still listed as serious.
Police had said the attack outside State House occurred around 7.30 am at the Carmichael Street entrance, during which Chimezie was shot and injured.
Before he was wounded, Chimezie demanded to see President Irfaan Ali, stabbed Perreira five times and seized a gun from another guard. He then engaged in a shootout with guards.
Chimezie was shot several times about his body and underwent emergency surgery. Perreira was stabbed five times, including in his neck and shoulder.
This newspaper was informed that Chimezie showed up at State House and confronted Perreira, who was among the ranks on duty at the guard hut. He reportedly said, “I want the President”.
Chimezie then went into a pouch, which he had in his possession, and whipped out a knife that he used to launch the attack on Perreira.
Information reaching this newspaper revealed that Perreira then held onto Chimezie’s hand and the knife and a female rank who was present tried to assist him.
This caused the Nigerian to turn his attention to the female rank and he disarmed her of her firearm. Chimezie then used the weapon and started to shoot indiscriminately. Other ranks who were in the area returned fire, injuring him.
Investigators recovered a 9mm pistol and seven matching spent shells at the scene. The attack has raised questions about the level of security provided at State House.
