Anthony Charles, aka ‘Skiddle’, of Leopold Street, Georgetown was yesterday gunned down and police are currently searching for a silver-grey Allion motor vehicle which was used in the getaway.
‘Skiddle’ a 33-year-old labourer, was killed execution-style on D’Urban Street, Werk-en-Rust, Georgetown. His body was riddled with 12 bullets including to his neck and forehead. The motive for the killing is unclear but the police have since launched an investigation.
The police, in statement yesterday afternoon, said preliminary investigations revealed that Charles was in company of another labourer, 43-year-old Dexter Lawrence, at the time of the shooting. They were walking towards a shop at the corner of D’Urban and Smyth streets to purchase alcohol.
While walking to the shop, police said a silver grey old-model Allion motorcar, bearing registration number, PVV 5906, approached the duo from behind and opened fire. Lawrence ran in a westerly direction and escaped but Charles fell to the ground. Police have since ascertained that the registration number of the car is fake.
Lawrence told investigators that at the time he and Charles were walking towards the shop and he turned to look back and saw a car and a male in a dark-coloured hoodie exit and walk up to Charles. The shooter then discharged several rounds at Charles. The gunman then quickly re-entered the car which drove and turned north into Smyth Street and disappeared. Lawrence suffered a bruise to his hand which he said was caused by a bullet. Charles was later found lying on his back in a pool of blood. The police said several 9mm spent shells, five warheads and a metal fragment were found at the scene.
Family members wailed uncontrollably at news of his death but were tightlipped. They declined to offer any comment to the press. Other witnesses who had gathered at the scene lamented that a police patrol vehicle was in the vicinity of the shooting but failed to respond. One woman, who requested anonymity, told reporters that Charles and several others were cleaning the drains in the area. She said they had just finished the section where Charles was killed.
“They move up the truck and they were coming back to buy rum from the shop… after everything done [a woman] run out to check and see he lying on the road. He had a pulse but he was bleeding a lot,” she explained. She added that first responders made attempts to inform the patrol that was in the area of the shooting but they didn’t respond immediately.
“This man that was well masked up came out the vehicle and start firing at him. It didn’t last long and then he jump in back the vehicle and speed off.” she said. The woman added that even after the shooting he had a pulse but he subsequently died.
From the woman’s recount, Charles was first shot to his side when he came under attack. Though the family refused to speak at the scene, some were heard accusing the police of contributing to Charles’ demise. The police were called out, first for not providing emergency assistance to evacuate Charles immediately for medical attention and secondly, for failing to respond and pursue the killer’s getaway vehicle.
