The Guyana Police Force has retained the licensed firearm belonging to journalist Travis Chase for testing, as it continues its investigation into a recent shooting incident, which saw a lone gunman firing shots at a car moments after Chase left the same car.

In a statement last night, the police sought to link the gun used in the shooting to the one owned and carried by Chase. Chase, however, has rejected that link. He said ballistics tests were done on his gun a few years ago when he was involved in a shooting incident.

“They know what I know, and I know that it is coming from them. This shooting is coming from the police, and they know what I know, and I am not afraid to day it,” Chase said while standing outside of the CID Headquarters.  

In its statement, the Police said the spent shells recovered by investigators from the scene and tested by the Force’s Crime Laboratory are similar to specimens provided by Chase when he registered his firearm. 

“One of the expert firearm examiners within the laboratory compared the aforementioned shell casings with the specimen shell casings that were obtained from Mr Chase when he had just purchased and registered his firearm, and the preliminary test result reveals significant similarities between these spent shells,” the police explained. 

The police said as a consequence, investigators invited Chase to surrender his licensed firearm for further analysis to be conducted as the probe continues.

Chase heeded to the police’s request, and reported to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarter, where he handed over his licensed firearm in the presence of his Attorney, Nigel Hughes last evening. 

“They wanted to conduct ballistics on the weapon but they wanted to keep the weapon. I think the officer, Mr Singh, if that’s the senior officer that came in after, he said that we will give the weapon in, they will do the ballistics and they will hand it back. Now, it’s 9:30, they have kept the weapon, they have closed the gates and I am left unarmed,” Chase explained. 

Chase said he doesn’t feel safe now that he is without his licensed firearm.

“I feel very threatened. I don’t feel safe at all. And that’s a fact, I don’t feel safe at all,” the journalist said. 

In a statement on Facebook, his Attorney, Nigel Hughes said the theory that Chase conspired with someone else to shoot at him, using his licensed firearm is “untenable.”

He noted too that from the time of Chase’s arrival at the Ballistic Department, he was being video recorded by a Policeman, despite the objections from his Attorney.

Up to press time, Chase’s licensed firearm was not returned to him by the police. 

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