A security officer of Dazzell Housing Scheme, East Coast Demerara was fatally shot yesterday by her twin sister’s ex-boyfriend who afterwards attempted to take his own life.
A Guyana Police Force release stated that they are investigating the incident that occurred at around 1 am yesterday which resulted in the death of Ashanti Liverpool, a 24-year-old security officer and the hospitalization of a 31-year-old security officer of Haslington, East Coast Demerara.
According to the report, the suspect shared a common-law relationship with the deceased woman’s sister. Enquiries revealed that at about 12.20 am yesterday, the suspect went to the Hong Kong Chinese Supermarket located at Good Hope, East Coast Demerara, where he met a 23-year-old security officer (co-worker), who at the time was armed with an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle and eight live rounds of ammunition.
The suspect told the security officer that the supervisor had sent him to collect the rifle. The security officer told police that he made several calls to his supervisor via cellphone, which went unanswered. The suspect then collected the firearm with ammunition and went away.
The suspect had earlier gone to the ex-girlfriend’s home and saw her sitting in a car parked in front of her house. As such, he left, went to Good Hope, and returned about 30 minutes later armed with the AR-15, where he entered the house and found Liverpool, who was at home in bed.
He demanded to be told about her sister’s whereabouts, (she had left the house a short while before the suspect arrived). This prompted Liverpool to run outside, and as she made her way out of the yard and headed east along the access road, the suspect opened fire on her with the rifle.
Liverpool continued running and collapsed in a nearby yard. The suspect then mounted his motorcycle and left the scene. He proceeded to Hong Xing Supermarket at Industry Railway Embankment, ECD, where he met with another colleague, a 29-year-old security officer, who at the time was also armed with an AR-15 with six live matching rounds of ammunition.
The suspect told his colleague that he needed his help in clearing the rifle which he had in his possession because a round was stuck in the breech. The colleague took the rifle from the suspect and attempted to clear it outside the supermarket, leaving his firearm inside the supermarket where the suspect was.
While attempting to clear the rifle, the colleague heard a loud explosion from inside the supermarket, and upon checking, saw the suspect on the ground. When he went to his aid, he saw what appeared to be blood coming from the left side of his chest with the firearm beside him.
A patrol from the Sparendaam Police Station was summoned, and the suspect was picked up in an unconscious state and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital. On his arrival, he was admitted nursing a single gunshot wound to the chest. His condition is considered critical and he is presently under guard at the hospital.
Liverpool’s mother, Ann Scott, told Stabroek News that her twin daughters resided at Dazzell, and she lives few streets away from them. Scott recounted that at about 4 am yesterday, she received a call from her son who said that he was outside of her home and wanted methylated spirits and Limacol. Scott said her suspicions grew when her son requested the items since he appeared to be in good health. The son then informed her that Liverpool had been shot and killed.
Despite being identical twins, Liverpool and her sister could be easily distinguished from each other because Liverpool sported dreadlocks, while her sister would interchange hairstyles. According to Scott, it was premeditated murder since the suspect knew the difference between the two sisters.
The bereaved mother described Liverpool, who was the mother of two, as the ‘Big One’ since they were born approximately one hour apart. Scott added that Liverpool was like a mother to her twin sister since she was the head of their home. Scott said that the twins loved each other dearly and would often work together to achieve their goals.
