Shawn Thomas also known as ‘Troy Richards’, ‘Mark Baxter’ and ‘Cutty’, a miner of Pearl Village, East Bank Demerara, was yesterday charged with murder of Ray Narain at Sand Hill Backdam in Region #7 in September, 2022.
Thomas appeared at the Bartica Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Teriq Mohamed where the charge was read to him. He was not required to plead and was remanded to prison.
The matter was adjourned until May 3, 2024.
On September 9, 2022 Thomas was alleged to have shot and killed 22-year-old Narain of Spring Gardens, Essequibo Coast.
On February 23rd this year, the deceased’s father Elton Narain who had witnessed the murder, saw the suspect, for whom a wanted bulletin had been issued, at Grill King on Mandela Avenue and alerted the police.
Detectives responded immediately and arrested the suspect. Additionally, the suspect has a commitment warrant for two years imprisonment for unlawful possession of firearm/ammunition, the police had said.
In a statement on the murder in September 2022, the GPF had said that Ray Narain was fatally wounded when two men opened fire on him and his twin brother, Ron Keme Narine, and 30-year-old Rakesh Chunilall, a miner of Goed Bananen Land, Berbice. While Ray Narain died, his brother and Chunilall were wounded in the attack. It was noted that Ray Narain was shot twice in his chest and his body was found covered with several branches. There were also lacerations to his abdomen and shoulder. Ron Narain was shot in his right arm while Chunilall suffered a single gunshot wound to his abdomen.
It is suspected that the shooting stemmed from an altercation Ron Narain and one of the suspects had on Saturday, September 17, during which Ron Narain relieved the man of a firearm and ammunition.
The police said that Ron Narain related that around 23.30hrs, he and his brother left their mining operation and went to Sand Hill Landing, Cuyuni River. He said while they were sitting on the front step of a shop, the suspects rode up on an XR motorcycle.
“The suspects dismounted the motorcycle, hurriedly walked towards their direction with what appeared to be handguns and started to discharge several rounds in their direction,” the police said.
While the twin brothers ran, the suspects continued to shoot at them. Ray Narain collapsed. However, Ron Narain said he continued running and sought refuge in some bushes where he remained for some two hours. Upon emerging from his hiding place, he said he saw Ray Narain’s lifeless body on the roadway.
Chunilall had told investigators that the suspects passed him on a motorcycle and parked in a dark area. Thereafter, Chunilall said he saw the suspects approaching the brothers and pointing what appeared to be handguns at them.
Afterwards, he heard loud explosions which sounded like gunshots. Upon hearing that, Chunilall said he and other persons who were at the shop ran. It was while running that he felt a pain in his abdomen.
Chunilall fell to the ground and became unconscious. He was taken to the Bartica Hospital and later transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery.
