Less than two days after the Linden home invasion which resulted in a double murder, the police have issued wanted bulletins for two suspects.
John Ross known as JR of Five Corner, Linden and 30-year-old, Troy Bruce known as `Blacka’ of Lot 26, Wismar Hill are wanted over the murder of 87-year-old Johnson Bowen and Emmanuel Dos Santos, 58. One of the alleged bandits was found dead on Sunday in an abandoned house with multiple chop wounds, while another was caught. One of the bandits had been chopped during the attack.
Meanwhile, Denzil Roberts, the 20-year-old man who suffered multiple gunshot wounds when he attempted to stave off the home invasion has regained consciousness and is showing signs of recovery. Mark Murray, uncle of Roberts said in a Facebook post, “It’s with a light heart I’m happy to say that my nephew’s eyes are open after being shot three times during that robbery in Linden over the weekend. His condition remains stable at the moment.
I appreciate all the calls and messages. Unfortunately, his grandfather and uncle did not survive the heartless and cowardly act.”
Stabroek News had previously reported that during a home invasion in Block 22, Linden, Bowen and Dos Santos were shot dead by the bandits. It was reported that the attack was carried out by three masked men last Saturday morning, just after 3 a.m.
Vashti Bowen had told police that she was asleep with her husband (Dos Santos) while her father (Bowen) was in another bedroom with Roberts. Vashti said she was awakened by noise coming from the living room and upon exiting her bedroom for the living room, she observed three armed men – two with guns and one with a cutlass. The man carrying the cutlass was pulling her father from his bedroom.
Her nephew, Roberts, attempted to fight off the attackers but was shot in the face, the left side of the chest and lower back. Roberts attempted to follow the bandit who shot 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 began firing gunshots indiscriminately before escaping on foot. After the bandits escaped, 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 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 seen 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. Crime Chief, Wendell Blanhum noted that from all appearances the incident appears to have been an attempted robbery.
Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn visited the family of the murdered persons on Sunday and expressed revulsion at what had happened.
In a video posted on the ministry’s Facebook page, he said “I want to say how disgusted we are as I am sure that the community is in respect of this attack on this family. It is obvious too that if you look around and visit the house and speak to the persons living here that they represent the most vulnerable in our society…of our people. It is indeed shocking that for what was seemingly little gain guns were used…and then they were basically executed…this is heinous, disgraceful and the police are required to solve this one”.
He called on the community to assist with the investigation.
“…I want to call on the community at Block 22 and also to the people of Linden as a whole to let us get information as to who these perpetrators are. We of course have challenges with crimes and the drug crimes and we have been getting guns off the streets but our sense is that people are aware … relatives and friends are aware when persons have guns and whether they may be up to criminal behaviour…and if we want to reduce this dramatically and bring control to the situation…we have to get actionable intelligence…people must let us know…neighbours, relatives, friends and the community must let us know when they see behaviour or action or things in possession of people which can pose a risk to the community. So I want to condemn (these murders) in the strongest possible terms and to call on all people to join up and let us solve this crime”.
