A 25-year-old security guard of Paradise, East Coast Demerara died on Saturday, three weeks after he was shot by another security guard, who is yet to be arrested.
Dead is Gerald Anthony Sobers known as Eddie. His sister, Joyann Sobers, told Stabroek News that Gerald and a colleague called ‘Killa’ or ‘Collin’ (only names given) were involved in a conflict about six weeks ago at a worksite.
She said that her brother had visited them (siblings) and related what transpired. According to her, he had gone to borrow an electric bike from ‘Killa’, who had refused to lend it to him. A heated argument ensued and ‘Killa’ had reportedly drawn his service firearm and pointed at Gerald. At the time of the incident, ‘Killa’ was on duty at a supermarket; the owner of the supermarket had then called the police and both men were arrested.
Joyann added that they were granted bail and were expected to appear before the court on the Wednesday after the incident, which occurred on a Sunday.
On July 3, Gerald and his fiancée went to visit his mother and relatives, who live in the same village. When he got there, a cousin requested that they accompany her to his father’s relatives. According to the sister, a good relationship does not exist between the father’s relatives and them. However, they went. His fiancée related that they were expecting him to wait for them at the supermarket, but he followed them into the yard where they saw ‘Killa’.
At the time they were both unaware that Gerald had been previously involved in a conflict with the suspect and they proceeded into the house leaving him outside. The fiancée related that a few minutes later an explosion was heard and they assumed that it was a squib.
However, another cousin who had been outside entered and told them to be quiet and that “Buck man get shoot”. Since she was unaware that it was his alias, the fiancée said, she was confused. However, on venturing outside, she discovered Gerald lying in a pool of blood. He had reportedly taken a bullet to the neck, which hit the spinal cord before exiting.
Gerald was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where it was discovered that he was paralyzed from shoulder down. He was placed on a life support machine, but succumbed on Saturday at approximately 14:30 hrs.
After Gerald was hospitalised someone (unknown identity) had called his cousin’s phone and began talking about compensation. According to his sister, the person who called was presumed to be a lawyer and had detailed information about the shooting. She said they had related that information to the police.
The family has since requested that a wanted bulletin be issued for the suspect, whose identity was made known to the police, the sister stated.
Stabroek News contacted the Enmore Police Station and was told that the detective investigating the matter was not in office.
Police Public Relations Officer Mark Ramotar expressed ignorance as regards the incident, but said he would inquire with the commander for the details.
Persaud (only name given) of OP Security Service (OPSS), when contacted by Stabroek News, related that Gerald Sobers had been employed with OPSS for only a few days and was on probation. He further stated that he had been unaware of the shooting incident but knew that Gerald had not been at work and subsequently made contact via phone and spoke with his sister.
It is unclear which security service the suspect is employed with.
