Police are investigating the killing on Saturday of 23-year-old Louis Phillips, a vaquero of Parikwarnawa Village, Central Rupununi, Region Nine.
The police stated that Louis was employed by a rancher to work on his ranch located about 15 miles from Aishalton Village.
According to the rancher, on July 5, he visited his ranch and noticed some cows were missing from his herd and so tasked Louis with finding them. However, at about 18.30 hours on July 6, when he revisited his ranch Louis indicated to him that his cows had not been found. He then left Louis at the ranch and went home to Aishalton Village. At about 18.00 hours on Saturday when he returned to his ranch, he claimed that he found Louis’ lifeless body lying in a hammock in the kitchen. He immediately went to Aishalton Police Station at about 20.30 hours and reported the matter.
The police stated that while the owner was being interviewed, he admitted finding an air rifle next to Louis’ body. He said he picked it up and hid it in some bushes away from his ranch because he was afraid that the gun would get him in trouble.
The owner, who by this point was now a suspect, then took the police to the area and showed them where the air rifle was. It was retrieved by the crime scene rank and when examined it was found to be loaded. The suspect was then arrested and the scene processed by the crime scene rank. The body of the victim which was already at the Aishalton District Hospital was examined and a small entry hole was observed in the right temple. Statements were obtained and the hands of both the suspect and victim were swabbed for gunpowder residue.
On Tuesday, a post mortem examination with dissection was performed on the body by government pathologist Nehaul Singh and the cause of death was given as gunshot wound to the head.
The deceased’s sister, Christtanie Phillip, told Stabroek News via telephone that around 10 pm on Saturday her mother got a call about Louis’ death. She recalled that earlier that day, she was trying to return a call to Louis as she had earlier received a “please call me” text from him.
