-six others injured
A businessman of South Ruimveldt was fatally wounded yesterday morning on D’Urban Street when four gunmen in a car opened fire and five other persons were injured.
According to the police, 40-year-old Anthony Havercome, called ‘Pandit, was fatally shot at about 5.30 am at Lot 23 D’Urban Street, Lodge, by gunmen in a black Toyota Premio.
Enquiries revealed that the incident took place in the vicinity of V’s Delight, on D’Urban Street. According to Keon Aaron, a 37-year-old businessman and proprietor of V’s Delight, he had hosted an “All Black” party for the second anniversary of his business at a wash bay opposite the business place. Shortly after 5 am, a police patrol instructed him to stop the party which he did.
At this point, he related, some people left the party, but there were still a few others liming and drinking in front of his business. Aaron stated that while he was checking off his bar, he heard several loud explosions that sounded like gunshots, and upon investigating, saw a dark-coloured, heavily-tinted car speeding off in a western direction. He rushed over to his business place and observed several persons with what appeared to be blood on their bodies. With the assistance of public-spirited persons, the injured persons were placed in different motor cars and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital and St Joseph Mercy Hospital.
Havercome, who had sustained a gunshot wound to right side of his back below his shoulder blade, died while receiving treatment. Six others were injured with their condition listed as serious, but stable. They are: 1) Travis Ceres, a 25-year-old vendor of East La Penitence, Georgetown. He suffered what appears to be a graze to his right elbow and right abdomen. 2) Destra Auther, a 33-year-old vendor also of East La Penitence. She sustained a gunshot wound to her lower left leg. 3) Teon Allen, called ‘Spoil Child’, a 38-year-old unemployed resident of Sophia. He sustained a gunshot wound to his left shoulder. 4) Stanley Matthews, 31, of Turkeyen, was shot once in the left hand and left thigh. 5) Lennox Wayne, called ‘Two Colours’, a 39-year-old security guard from Turkeyen, sustained gunshot wounds to his right thigh and right palm. 6) Lloyd Roberts, a 43-year-old miner of Golden Grove, East Bank Demerara, was shot in his right upper chest and left hip.
While processing the crime scene, detectives discovered 29 9mm spent shells, one live round of 9mm ammunition, four pieces of metal fragments, and six projectiles.
In addition, they examined a silver Toyota Allion motor car – PWW 2242 – and another car – PAD 658, which were parked on the bridge of the premises, and observed that they both had bullet holes to their front windscreens.
Police stated that at about 9.30 am yesterday, acting on information received, detectives went to Manatee Place, North Ruimveldt, Georgetown, where they found a black Toyota Premio car (without a number plate) parked at the side of the road. The vehicle was examined, and registration number, PAC 8364, was seen engraved on the windscreens.
The vehicle was processed and 11 9mm spent shells, along with one .223 spent shell, were found in the front and back seats of the car. Two suspected bullet holes were seen in the lower right back passenger door, and what appears to be a graze from a bullet to the left side back just above the gas tank.
CCTV cameras were observed in the vicinity and their footage will be reviewed. The vehicle was subsequently transported to the police station where it was lodged pending investigation.
The owner of the car, Coleen Burrowes, a 33-year-old businesswoman was contacted. She told police that earlier that morning, at about 4 am, she was driving her black Toyota Premio car, PAC 8364, along D’Urban Street, Georgetown, in the company of a friend and two cousins. While at D’Urban and Victor streets, Lodge, she felt an urgent need to urinate, and pulled over. She said that it was then she was approached by two men on a white Honda XR motorcycle (registration number unknown). The pillion rider dismounted, pointed a firearm at her and demanded that she hand over the car. Fearing for her life, she, along with the other occupants, exited the car, and the armed suspect entered the car and drove north on Victor Street and escaped while the motorcycle followed. Burrowes said she immediately went to the East La Penitence Police Station, where a report was made.
Detectives attended the scene and canvassed the area for CCTV cameras.
Joyful
Friends of Havercome yesterday remembered him as a joyful and warm-hearted individual. Havercome, who was well-known at the Stabroek Market where he worked for years, was described by those close to him as someone who had been part of the market community since he was just 12 years old.
Speaking to the Sunday Stabroek at the market, a group of his friends expressed their grief and shared memories of Havercome, noting that he didn’t have much family support.
“He’s been here since he was 12 years old. He didn’t really have family; the people at the market were his family,” one friend said. “The man was always jolly.”
Another friend expressed frustration over how distant relatives, who rarely showed interest in his life, suddenly appeared yesterday after his death. “They came out here and started fighting for his belongings even before his body got cold. The market people had to chase them away because they never really cared for him,” the friend said.
Despite being willing to share some memories, those who knew Havercome hesitated to provide further details, citing safety concerns. “Out here, even if you don’t say something, people can twist it and say you did, so I can’t give you any more information,” one friend remarked.
Efforts to reach Havercome’s family were unsuccessful, as many people were reluctant to speak due to fears for their safety.
Two of the injured are well known to the police. In March this year, Allen, a former policeman was arrested at the Leonora Stadium and remanded to prison after he was charged with the possession of a firearm and ammunition without a licence.
He pleaded not guilty after the charges were read to him and was remanded to prison
Allen has had several other brushes with the law in recent years. In August, 2017, Allen was charged with harbouring wanted men, Mark Royden Williams and Uree Varswyck – both of whom had escaped from the Camp Street Prison on July 9, 2017. In January of the same year, Allen was among three men who were charged with the illegal possession of an AK-47 and matching ammunition. They were taken into custody after the items were found by the police during a raid at a John Street, Campbellville house.
In December of 2019, Allen faced four charges, including shooting at a lawman, stemming from a shootout with the police at Houston. He had also been wounded during that encounter. In October, 2019, he was the target of a shooting at La Penitence Market. Two men were charged with attempted murder. In September, 2019, the police had issued a wanted bulletin for Allen in connection with the attempted murder of two women, Denise Grant and Tiffany McDeth. He subsequently surrendered and faced a charge for allegedly discharging a loaded firearm. He was later released on bail.
On March 12th, 2020 Allen was remanded to prison after he was not required to plead to the charge of murdering his girlfriend, Collissa Hunte, 28, of Amelia’s Ward, Linden, on February 27, 2020. The case was subsequently discharged against him based on legal advice from the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Previous trials
After spending eight years on remand for murder and facing two previous trials which both ended in hung juries, Wayne, called ‘Two Colours,’ was freed on June 28, 2022 after a jury in his third and final trial acquitted him.
The prosecution’s case was that Wayne had shot and killed Ashmini Harriram, called ‘Monesha,’ at the Lusignan Railway Embankment, East Coast Demerara, on the morning of July 10, 2014.
Wayne, a former self-professed police informant, had, however, submitted the theory that the capital charge may have been levelled against him because he had previously testified in a matter against a senior member of the police force.
Wayne’s story was also that prior to being charged along with Melroy Doris for Harriram’s murder, he did not know who Doris was.
The star witness, Doris, had told the court during the trial, however, that it was Wayne who had shot and killed Harriram.
According to Doris, who at the time was a taxi driver, Wayne had hired him to be transported to Lusignan.
He had said that as he drove along the Railway Embankment, Wayne requested that he stop the vehicle, and after he did, Wayne exited and shot the young woman after which he re-entered the car and ordered him to drive.
According to a caution statement (CS), which police say Wayne gave to them, however, he alleged that Doris had approached him with the hit. Wayne, however, vehemently denied ever giving the statement to police.
The court had heard from the CS that Doris, with whom Wayne had become acquainted one month before the killing, told him of a “work” he wanted him, [Wayne] to get done.
