The body of a man (identity unknown) who was allegedly involved in the double murder on Saturday morning at Block 22, Linden was found in an abandoned house yesterday.
Region #10 Commander, Kurleigh Simon told Stabroek News that two other persons are currently in police custody assisting with investigations. Denzil Roberts, the 20-year-old who was also injured during the home invasion remains hospitalized in a critical state.
Stabroek News had reported that on Saturday morning an elderly man and his son-in-law were both shot dead during a home invasion in Block 22, Linden. The deceased are 87-year-old Johnson Bowen and Emmanuel Dos Santos, a 58-year-old miner. The attack was carried out by three masked men, two armed with guns and one with a cutlass. According to the police report, Bowen and Santos both resided in the one-storey house.
Vashti Bowen, an occupant of the home, told police that she was asleep with her husband Dos Santos while her father (Bowen) was in another bedroom with her 20-year-old son. Vashti stated that she was awoken by a noise in the living room. She exited the bedroom for the living room and observed the three men armed with guns and a cutlass. The man carrying the cutlass was pulling her father from his bedroom, she explained. Her nephew, Roberts, who attempted to fight off the attackers was shot in the face, left side of the chest and lower back.
Dos Santos then attempted to follow the bandit who shot at him but collapsed in front of the door. Another occupant of the house armed himself with a cutlass and chopped one of the home invaders. The attackers then escaped on foot.
Bowen was found lying on the floor with a laceration to the head, armpit, left hand and gunshot wounds to the centre of his back, upper and lower right side of his back, chest, and arm. Dos Santos’ body was found lying motionless with a laceration to the head and gunshot injuries to the back of his neck, lower back and left thigh, while two additional wounds were on his left knee.
At the scene, four .32 spent shells, seven 9 mm spent shells, a warhead and three fragments were discovered in and around the house. The two men were taken to the Linden Hospital and pronounced dead on arrival.
Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn, visited the family of the deceased persons and expressed disgust at what happened. Benn called on the community to assist the police with their investigation. He referenced the challenges faces by the Guyana Police Force with crimes and drugs. Benn said the GPF’s aim is to get guns off the streets and to reduce criminal behaviour drastically but called on the community to provide tangible intelligence to the police.
